Budget carrier Vietjet Air is operating daily flights on the two international routes connecting Da Nang with the two Indian largest cities of Mumbai and New Delhi which are considered to be potential sources of overseas visitors to Da Nang, and Central Viet Nam as a whole, thereby spuring expansion of source markets for international tourism in the city. Therefore, Da Nang is tailoring its tourism products and services to match tastes and preferences of the new sources of international tourists.

An Indian chef at the Furama Resort Danang is preparing food for guests. Photo: THU HA

A preliminary survey shows that Indian tourist arrivals in Da Nang prefer to stay at 5-star hotels and seaside resorts. Meanwhile, there are currently 8 Indian small-sized restaurants operating in Da Nang. Hence, large-scale restaurants must be developed in the city to welcome potential large groups of Indian visitors to the city in the near future.

Opened in 2013, the Family Indian Restaurant located at 231 on Ho Nghinh Street, Phuoc My Ward, Son Tra District, has become familiar with Indian tourists and Indian food lovers in the city.

Ms. Tran Thi Phuong Thao, the Director of FTK Company Limited and owner of the Family Indian Restaurant, said the restaurant's guests were mainly Indian people living and working in Da Nang, plus visitor arrivals from Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City, so the restaurant saw moderate number in its guests. However, Vietjet’s launching new international flights from Da Nang to New Delhi and Mumbai has helped bring more Indian tourists to the city, and made the restaurant crowded with such visitors. The Family Indian Restaurant was opened by Mr. Kishan, a native North Indian man, so authentic Indian dishes are being offered at the restaurant as they are cooked by Indian chefs. The restaurant now has 4 Indian chefs with work experience in India and rich experience in cooking the variety of foods.

In its efforts to deliver best service for the influx of Indian guests, the Furama Resort Danang has opened its own Indian kitchen space since September 2022.

Mr. Tamilarasan Perumal, an Indian culinary expert, who has more than 20 years of work experience in many hotels in many countries worldwide, including China and Morocco, said that local residents and large groups of international visitors will enjoy amazing, new culinary experiences at the Furama Resort Danang’s restaurant with authentic Indian foods cooked by him.

The Da Nang Hotel Association in collaboration with the IBH Training Academy recently organized a training course for sales managers at holiday resorts and hotels across the city to help them build their business and marketing skills in India in efforts to attract visitors from this country. In addition, the Da Nang Hotel Association has also  worked with relevant local agencies to open training courses on Indian culture and cuisine for employees working at tourist accommodation establishments in the city.

Mr. Nguyen Duc Quynh, the Chairman of the Da Nang Hotel Association, stressed the need for local tourism businesses to prepare in the best possible way in terms of human resources and infrastructure to serve the super-rich or events and weddings of Indian billionaires in a bid to meet their strict requirements in terms of space and service quality. Mr. Quynh highlighted the importance of training courses for staff in the hospitality industry in helping them know the tourism characteristics, tastes and preferences of India, such as its geography, population, languages, religions, cuisine, customs and traditions in an attempt to serve best for Indian tourists and leave deep impression of the city’s beautiful image on them. Regular human resources training will help Da Nang’s tourism industry prepare itself in terms of quantity and quality in order to avoid staff shortages in case of increased Indian tourist arrivals, Mr Quynh remarked.

Mr. Nguyen Xuan Binh, the Deputy Director of the Municipal Department of Tourism said that the Department has coordinated with the Municipal Tourism Association and the Municipal Hotel Association to open training courses on Indian culture and cuisine plus tastes of Indian travellers. A number of new services for Indian guests, including restaurants and food services has been opened across Da Nang.

Mr Binh underscored the necessity of developing more tourism products and services to meet the taste of Indian tourists, and international visitors as a whole.

Reporting by THU HA – Translating by H.L