Da Nang prides itself on its long and beautiful coastline and its stature as a city of events and festivals for tourists. However, in order to attract even more tourists, it is high time for the local tourism industry to take advantage of every opportunity to promote itself to other potential international markets in the time ahead.

Many major international events have been selected and held in Da Nang. Partners are seen making exchanges at Routes Asia 2022. Photo: THU HA

Since the start of this year, the city has organised many outstanding events such as Hot air balloon festival at the end of March, Enjoy Da Nang Summer Festival 2022 from June 11 to August 15 with many programmes, events, music festivals, Route Asia 2022 from 6 to 8 June, Da Nang Golf Tourism Festival 2022 from August 28 to September 3. 

The organisation of many domestic and international events as well as the addition of high-class tourism products and services is considered a one of the "strategies" targeting at helping Da Nang to attract a large number of domestic and international tourists.

It is no coincidence that at the beginning of September 2022, Da Nang was honoured by the World Travel Awards 2022 for the second time in Asia and Oceania in the category ‘Asia's Leading Festival and Event Destination 2022’.

To be eligible for this award, the city has made great efforts in organising major international events and creating a brand mark such as Da Nang International Fireworks Festival, Clipper Race 2016, Asian Marine Games (ABG) 2016; APEC 2017 Summit Week, and more recently, Route Asia 2022, Da Nang Golf Tourism Festival 2022.

In regard to the perspective of travel businesses, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Thien, Deputy Director of Hai Van Cat International Travel JSC said that the destination of Da Nang has reached the international level, affirming its position and running highly inviting events that really bring great joy to the world level. However, Da Nang needs to make an outstanding change and boldly renew itself to truly deserve the titles that have been honoured over the past time.

“In order for the city's activities to be vibrant and attractive to tourists, the city can perfect and refresh existing products. For example, when the An Thuong nightlife site was put into operation, it attracted the attention of tourists. However, it is still necessary to develop more services and facilities here to increase its attractiveness. Also, major international festivals in some foreign countries should be introduced in Da Nang and Da Nang should become a fun and festival destination for tourists from all over the world for leisure and experience”, Mr. Thien suggested.

Sharing the same view, Chairman of the Da Nang Tourism Association Cao Tri Dung acknowledged that, on the basis of Da Nang’s activities and events that have made an impression on international tourists and its stature as ‘Asia's Leading Festival and Event Destination 2022’, the city should identify itself as the ‘the city of domestic and international events.

Instead of organizing festivals that are very expensive in terms of resources, let's promote a strength that Da Nang has enough infrastructure for transportation, accommodation, food services and entertainment to organise big events. Da Nang has been doing this well through Route Asia 2022 and Da Nang Golf Tourism Festival 2022 or the fact that Indian billionaires have stayed and held weddings in Da Nang.

“We plan to establish a M.I.C.E. club that includes travel and accommodation businesses specialising in looking for partners and bringing guests to Da Nang and organizing events here. It is necessary to exploit all of Da Nang's available ecosystem advantages in terms of infrastructure, environment, accommodation and services in a bid to bring long-term effects”, Mr. Dung added.

According to Mr. Nguyen Xuan Binh, the Deputy Director of the Da Nang Department of Tourism, the awards given to Da Nang confirm the city's prestige and capacity to organise major events. It is highly important to maintain a safe tourism environment, ensure infrastructure and develop policies to attract partners for the organisation of more events in the city.

As a destination of events and festivals, in addition to the events that have been successfully organised, the city is focusing on implementing the M.I.C.E. policy in the remaining months of 2022 and 2023 so as to host many events and conferences at both regional and international levels.

Reporting by THU HA - Translating by A.THU