Along with domestic tourists, Da Nang has seen foreign tourist numbers rebounding. This is considered to be a happy sign for the local tourism industry after a long time of making instant efforts to connect and resume international routes.

International tourists going for a stroll along Tran Phu Street, Hai Chau District. Photo: THU HA

According to the municipal Department of Tourism, till date, the city has resumed 10 international routes to Singapore, Suvarnabumi, Don Muang (Bangkok, Thailand), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Siem Reap (Cambodia), Indonesia, and Incheon, Daegu, Busan and Muan (all in South Korea). On average, in August, Da Nang is expected to welcome about 22 flights/day and 155 flights/week.

Data from the city’s Statistics Office showed that, in July alone, the number of guests served by local accommodation facilities was estimated at 514,800, up 13.1% over the previous month and 15.3 times higher than the same period in 2021. In particular, there were 57,500 international visitors, up 42.3% over the previous month, up 12.2 times over the same period.

As accumulated, in the 7-month period, the total number of visitors staying at accommodation establishments was estimated at 1.88 million, a hike of 83% over the same period, and 127,000 of them were international visitors up 44.3% and 1.76 million were domestic travellers, up 86.6% compared with the same period last year. The majority of foreign visitors came from South Korea, the USA, Thailand, Japan, Singapore, the UK, Australia, Laos, and India.

As one of the units specialising in exploiting the Thai tourist market, Mr. Nguyen Son Thuy, Director of the Duy Nhat Indochina Co., Ltd. analysed that Da Nang has recently attracted a large number of Thai tourists thanks to its new and special tourism products, including the Golden Bridge at Sun World Ba Na Hill tourist area, a full, rich and classy tourism ecosystem, and the hospitability and friendliness of local residents.

Da Nang welcomed about 68,432 Thai visitors in 2018, but the number rose to about 213,549 in 2019, representing a growth rate of over 200%. Also in 2019, 11 flights operated daily between Da Nang and such Thai localities as Bangkok and Chiang Mai.

According to Mr. Nguyen Son Thuy, the potential and demand of the Thai tourist market in particular, and Southeast Asian tourist market in general, are very large. Therefore, the early resumption of direct commercial flights between Da Nang and Singapore and Thailand has significantly contributed to luring more tourists from these markets to the city.

Before COVID-19, South Korean was always one of the largest sources of tourists in Da Nang. It is known that, upon the resumption of international routes from March 2022, there have so far been 9 airlines operating direct flights linking Da Nang with major South Korean cities, including Incheon, Busan, Daegu and Muan. These airlines are Vietjet Air, Vietnam Aairlines, Tway, Air Busan, Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, Jin Air, Jeju Air, and Air Seoul. Since the resumption of flights from South Korea, the city has welcomed about 75,159 Korean passengers.

Mr. Chung Eui-seock, Chief Representative of Korean Air in Da Nang, said that Da Nang was an attractive destination for Korean tourists. After the resumption of charter flights, the airline plans to fly daily to Da Nang from late July.

“We hope to soon exploit the maximum flight capacity and return to the way it was before COVID-19 with a frequency of 3 flights/day” said Mr. Chung Eui Seock.

International visitors enjoying a city tour by cyclo. Photo taken on August 4 on Bach Dang Street

In order to increase tourist arrivals in Da Nang in the near future, most recently, local tourism firms have joined the trip to promote the city’s tourism in the land of kimchi.

Mr. Gentzsch Andre Piere, General Director of the Furama Resort Danang and Ariyana Convention Centre tourism complex, hopes that the recent tourism promotion programmes in South Korea will contribute to bringing this tourist market back to the leading position in the city in the time to come.

“Da Nang is a familiar destination for South Korean tourists, whilst South Korea is a favourite tourist destination of the people of Da Nang in particular and Viet Nam in general. This exchange of visitors contributes to ensuring sustainable tourism development between the two countries,” said Mr. Pierce.

Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Tourism Nguyen Xuan Binh said that South Korea is one of the major tourist markets of Da Nang. Therefore, the city's tourism sector is willing to welcome famtrip groups from the country to conduct surveys and build tours and routes to Da Nang.

After the Routes Asia 2022, more direct flights to Da Nang have been resumed. In an effort to resume more international flight routes to Da Nang in the coming time, the department has well cooperated with the Da Nang International Airport, the Da Nang International Terminal Investment and Operation Joint Stock Company (AHT), airlines, travel agencies, and more to promote the reopening and maintenance of direct flights to Da Nang, added Mr. Binh.

Along with that, the city will focus on advertising its tourism images in key international markets such as South Korea, Japan, and Southeast Asian countries; and promoting the opening of 2 new routes to Da Nang from India and Cebu, the Philippines.

Special attention will be paid to inviting more famtrips and presstrips from South Korea, Japan, India and Malaysia to conduct surveys about the city’s tourism products in the fourth quarter of 2022 and the first quarter of 2023, as well as promoting tourism in Japan in September.

“The city's tourism sector has well prepared infrastructure, human resources, tourism products, culinary services for the Indian and Muslim tourist markets and MICE groups, and high-class visitors" noted Deputy Director Binh.

Reporting by THU HA - Translating by M.DUNG