In 2022, Da Nang hopes to resume 31 international flight routes, and some typical tourism activities like the ‘Da Nang - Summer Rendezvous’ programme to drive its post-pandemic tourism recovery after a ‘long hibernation’ due to COVID-19. The focus will be on fully tapping the potential of sea-based tourism as the sea tourism season is approaching.

Tourism services on Da Nang beaches are increasingly diverse. Photo: T.Y

Focus on exploiting the city’s advantages of sea-based tourism

Blessed with a beautiful long coastline, Da Nang has great potential of promoting the development of sea-based tourism.

Therefore, the city has developed many projects related to sea-based tourism in order to increase tourist numbers to the city. Included are projects on promoting community-based tourism at the Tho Quang - Man Thai beach in Son Tra District and in Nam O Village in Lien Chieu District, fostering beach tourism services along the Nguyen Tat Thanh Street, building the Van Village resort and entertainment complex, adjusting the master planning for tourism development to 2025, with a vision to 2030, and completing the master planning on the system of accommodation facilities in the city to 2020, with a vision to 2030.

For instance, the project on promoting community-based tourism at the Tho Quang - Man Thai beach will focus on fully exploiting such tourism potential combined with the preservation of traditional fishery villages, introducing daily life activities of fishery villagers to visitors, and creating the opportunities for visitors to experience the life of fishermen or fishing activities.

Meanwhile, the project on developing beach tourism services along the Nguyen Tat Thanh unique arch-shaped route aims to form unique tourism services such as experiencing sunrise and sunset in Nam O Bay on coracles, going swimming, taking photos, walking and visiting Nam O rapids.

Moreover, the city plans to add many new and high-quality services in order to raise the level and quality of its annual ‘Da Nang - Summer Rendezvous’ programme to satisfy the needs of tourists.

Mr. Nguyen Duc Vu, Head of the Management Board of the Son Tra Peninsula and Da Nang Tourism Beaches, said that Da Nang considered ‘Da Nang - Summer Rendezvous’ to be an important programme to promote the city’s sea-based tourism. The programme would feature a series of fascinating cultural and sporting activities such as fireworks at sea, sand sculpture, paragliding experience, kayaking, folk games, calligraphy, portrait drawing, and bamboo dancing.

Most recently, Da Nang has launched the campaign named "Enjoy Da Nang - Explore Da Nang" under the slogan of "Da Nang is bustling with many incentives".

Accordingly, from April 1 to August 15, visitors to Da Nang have the opportunity to experience great vacation packages, including Free and Easy packages worth VND 1.99 million each, healing and healthcare packages, and nature tour package.

Mr. Nguyen Xuan Binh, Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Tourism, assessed that there were many reasons for tourists to come to Da Nang on this occasion, in which the marine environment is very suitable for guests to rest and relax after a long time being affected by the pandemic.

“Currently, tourism activities in the city are being organised on a fairly large scale, in the spirit of focusing on developing specific tourism products and effectively exploiting the potential of sea-based tourism, including ecotourism and holiday tourism" noted Mr. Binh.

More special tourism products developed

The recent opening of the Da Nang-Ly Son waterway tourism route is expected to create a good opportunity for Da Nang to develop its sea-based tourism. This is a new tourism product, aiming to diversify tourism products in the city in a bid to lure tourists after two years of the interruption of tourism activities due to the impact of COVID-19.

The high-speed ship, named Trung Trac, with IMO number of 9886483, serving the recently-launched route is expected to be put into operation on April 9.

Operated by the Phu Quoc High Speed Boat JSC (Phu Quoc Express), the 7,505 HP, 44.7m-long ship will operate four trips per week. In particular, trips operating on the newly-launched route will depart from the city’s Song Han (Han River) Port on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and from the Ly Son Port on Wednesdays and Sundays. The ship can carry a total of 612 people, of which the maximum number of passengers allowed is 598.

After the trial period, the Phu Quoc Express will operate with a frequency of 2 trips and return in the same day to meet the needs of tourists.

A representative of the Da Nang Department of Tourism affirmed that the launching of the Da Nang - Ly Son inland waterway tourism route would contribute to attracting tourists to take a flight to Da Nang to discover the beauty of the city before experiencing the Da Nang - Ly Son tour.

To exploit the city’s great potential of sea-based tourism, the municipal People's Committee in March 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.

Mr. Nguyen Duc Vu said that many all kinds of entertainment services and watersports are being offered at tourist beaches along Hoang Sa, Vo Nguyen Giap, Truong Sa and Nguyen Tat Thanh routes.

To diversify tourism products, the Management Board plans to pilot night entertainment activities along the My An beach in Ngu Hanh Son District, like massage therapy services, mobile fast food vans, check-in spots, and decorative lighting.

A group of tourists experiencing stand-up paddle boarding (SUP) on a Da Nang Beach. Photo:T.Y

“In April, we will serve movie screenings on the beach and arts performances in tandem with maintaining a series of activities such as exhibitions about the Son Tra Peninsula's ecosystem, three-region chess tournaments, sand sculpture contests, musical programmes, and environmental protection activity during the opening of the beach tourism season 2022 which is slated to take place at the East Sea Park, Son Tra Peninsula and some tourism beaches from April 28 to May 3.

According to Mr. Vu, the Management Board of the Son Tra Peninsula and Da Nang Tourism Beach are continuing to conduct survey and evaluate the advantages and potential of eco-tourism at beaches around the peninsula.

“Around the Son Tra Peninsula, there are a number of beautiful beaches, one after another, such as Tien Sa, Da Den, Bang, Mieu, Sung Am, Da-Hon Lo, Mom Troc, Da Lan, Hon Su, Sung Ke, Da Chong, Mom Giua, and Bo Tre. And the only way to access them is by sea, so this is also an opportunity for the city to develop sea-based tourism in the future", Mr. Vu assessed.

General Director of Furama Danang Resort cum Standing Vice Chairman of the municipal Hotel Association Nguyen Duc Quynh, said that Da Nang had full advantages to develop sea-based tourism, but, it was necessary for the city to develop policies and mechanisms to boost the regional links and development and create specific tourism products in a bid to promote the development of sea and island tourism.

It can be said that Da Nang, in the coming time, targets to diversify types of tourism services, add pick-up and drop-off points, and create unique tourism products to meet all the needs of tourists in the direction of professionalism, modernity and comfort.

Reporting by TIEU YEN - Translating by M.DUNG