March 27, 2022 marked the return of tourism activities in Da Nang by resuming inbound and outbound international commercial flights after two years of disruption due to COVID-19, and launching many new and special tourism products.

Most specially, ceremonies to welcome first international visitors to the city from Singapore and Bangkok at Da Nang International Airport brought a bustling atmosphere to the city.

The celebrations for the resumption of international flights in Da Nang open up great opportunities to develop tourism, trade and services in the city. IN THE PHOTO: Leaders of the municipal Department of Tourism presenting welcome flowers and gifts to the first international visitors to the city at Da Nang International Airport on March 27. Photo: THU HA

Foreign tourists excited to come back

Flight SQ172 operated Singapore Airlines, with a total of nearly 160 passengers onboard, touched down at Da Nang International Airport at 11:05 am on Sunday. The flight resumed the operation of the Singapore - Da Nang route with a frequency of one flight/day on the mornings of Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, and on the afternoons of Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Similarly, Thai Vietjet Air-operated flight VZ960 landed at the airport at 12:30 on the same day, bringing about 150 passengers to the city. The Thai carrier operates flights between Bangkok and Da Nang with the frequency of 3 flights a week on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. The number of flights can be further adjusted according to market demand.

Leaders of the Da Nang Department of Tourism, the Da Nang International Terminal Investment and Operation Joint Stock Company (AHT), Da Nang International Airport, Singapore Airlines and Vietjet Air attended the welcome ceremonies and presented flowers and gifts to the first international guests on the two aforementioned flights to Da Nang right at the airport, creating a vibrant and bustling atmosphere here.

Being one of the air passengers present on the first international flight to Da Nang this time, Janai Stephent , an American native, said she was very impressed with the warm and enthusiastic welcome by the city at Da Nang International Airport. She felt very happy at visiting Da Nang, hoping that she would have a great time during her stay in the city.

Returning to Da Nang after a long hiatus triggered by the pandemic, Ms. Wood Jane (Australian nationality) who is living in Singapore expressed her excitement and happiness at being back to Da Nang. On this return trip, her family will stay in Da Nang for about 10 days, and then leave for Ho Chi Minh City for their future journey.

Connect with the world

In addition to welcoming international commercial flights back, also on March 27 morning, the first international flight of Singapore Airlines, carrying 50 passengers, took off from Da Nang to Singapore.

The first passengers departing from Da Nang were welcomed during a celebration at Da Nang International Airport with the message of ‘Welcome back world’.

As one of the passengers who departed from Da Nang for Singapore on the first resumed flight, Mr. Duong Quoc Quan, a resident of Lien Chieu District, felt very honoured and proud to be on this flight.

Addressing a ceremony to welcome the resumption of international flights on Sunday, Vice Chairman of the Da Nang People’s Committee Tran Phuoc Son said that over recent years, Da Nang's tourism industry has recorded impressive growth with the annual growth rate of 22% on an average in terms of international visitor numbers. He added that, over the past two years, the aviation and tourism industries have suffered greatly due to the pandemic and the disruption of international flights.

Vice Chairman Son remarked the restoration of international air routes connecting the city and the world marked not only the comeback of the aviation sector but also a new recovery of the local tourism.

He added “The city will make every effort to remove difficulties and obstacles to restore tourism and aviation activities under new normal conditions with the motto of safe adaptation, flexibility, effective control of COVID-19”.

Passengers on flight from Bangkok to Da Nang were welcomed by a representative of the Vietjet Air as soon as they got off the plane. Photo: THU HA

Milestone for tourism industry to accelerate growth

As part of the celebrations for the resumption of international flights in Da Nang, also on Sunday, AHT coordinated with relevant units to organise an amazing Hot Air Balloon Festival at the APEC Sculpture Park.

Addressing the event, Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Le Trung Chinh remarked the city has developed plans to promote tourism activities, such as sailing racing on the Han River, the Routes Asia 2022, and the opening of the Da Nang - Ly Son inland waterway tourism route.

He hoped that such soon-to-be-organised events would attract more tourists to Da Nang in the coming time.

Director of the municipal Department of Tourism Truong Thi Hong Hanh highlighted the significance of the resumption of international flights in marking important milestone for the city's tourism industry in tempting international visitors back, and paving the way for tourism activities citywide to recover and thrive again.

She revealed that, in the time to come, the city's tourism industry and related units would develop new and special tourism products, and make efforts to provide the best services for tourists.

Reporting by THU HA – Translating by M.DUNG