Over the past time, Da Nang has yet to tap fully its waterway tourism potential. Most recently, the municipal authorities have just announced the opening of an inland waterway passenger transportation route along the Son Tra Peninsula with the aim to awake the potential of the city’s waterway tourism with high-quality tourism products.

A two-hull tourist boat is about to be put into operation on the CT15 inland wharf - Hon Sup - Bai Nam - Bai Da - CT15 inland wharf route

Ensuring infrastructure and safety for waterway tourism

Director of the municipal Department of Tourism Truong Thi Hong Hanh said that the freshly-approved inland waterway tourist route along the Son Tra Peninsula: the CT15 inland wharf - Hon Sup - Bai Nam - Bai Da - CT15 inland wharf, is a new tourism product in the city.

She added the construction of the CT15 inland wharf was completed and handed over to the Management Board of the Son Tra Peninsula and Da Nang Tourism Beach for management and exploitation in December 2018. However, due to many problems relating to legal procedures, the wharf has yet to be put into use.

On March 19, the municipal People's Committee announced the opening of the CT15 inland wharf - Hon Sup - Bai Nam - Bai Da - CT15 inland wharf inland route with the total length 11km.

In an effort to improve the quality of the tourism product and especially ensure safety of tourists, the route is only allowed to operate from 7:30am to 5:30pm daily. The route will use river-sea compatible ships (VR-SB), with each boat accommodating between 12 and 50 passengers. Also, the boats are required to install some equipment according to regulations.

The municipal Department of Transport will be in charge of managing inland waterway passenger transport activities, whilst the city’s Border Guard Command will inspect and control people and vehicles entering/ exiting and operating in the maritime border area.

Waterway traffic, fire prevention and fighting, and emergency and rescue police will be responsible for conducting inspections and patrols according to regulations.

The Management Board of the Son Tra Peninsula and Da Nang Tourism Beach will coordinate with relevant units to manage and protect coral reefs, marine ecosystems and anchorages along the peninsula, as well as develop a plan for organising tourism activities at tourist spots, tourist resorts, accommodation establishments, and anchorages along the route.

Ready to welcome passengers

To improve the quality of management, operation and exploitation of waterway tourism, and ensure the highest level of waterway traffic safety, the municipal Department of Tourism plans to organise two training courses on tourism skills in April and November for crew members of tourist boats which are allowed to operate on the route.

Currently, the Viet An Group JSC, the operator of the waterway tourist route, has been busy upgrading some infrastructure at the CT15 inland wharf such as parking lots, service counters and waiting houses.

Additionally, the company has been paying special attention to boost the application of digital transformation in sales of tickets, tour products and services.

General Director of the Viet An Group JSC Nguyen Thanh Tam said that the preparation of high-quality tourist boats to ensure safety of passengers was his company's top priority.

The means of transport which will be put into use at waterway routes along the Son Tra Peninsula, specifically the tourist route from the inland waterway wharf CT15 to Hon Sup, Bai Nam and Bai Da, exceeds the SB standard.

Specifically, the company is about to put four double-hull tourist boats into operation before April 30, 2022.

According to General Director Tam, the soon-to-be-operated 2-hull tourist boats will accommodate only 16-19 passengers per ship, so waterway traffic safety will be guaranteed.

Reporting by TRIEU TUNG – Translating by M.DUNG