The 2023 New Year holiday was close to the Tet Festival, so the number of visitors to Da Nang did not increase dramatically. However, local popular tourist attractions welcomed a large number of visitors, whilst many domestic and international flights brought guests to Da Nang, bringing a bustling atmosphere on New Year's Day.

International tourists are excited to receive Vietnamese conical hats as gifts. Photo: THU HA

Huge number of air passengers

On New Year’s Day, Vietnam Airlines-operated flight VN161 brought 165 passengers from Ha Noi to Da Nang, whilst Vietjet Air-operated flight VJ879, carrying more than 170 passengers from South Korea’s Incheon, landed at Da Nang International Airport.

In addition to the municipal Department of Tourism-held programme to welcome first air passengers to Da Nang on New Year’s Day, representatives of Vietnam Airlines presented 3 business class tickets for domestic routes to 3 lucky passengers on flight VN161, whilst Vietjet Air gave 3 international round-trip tickets to 3 lucky passengers on flight VJ879.

Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Tourism Nguyen Xuan Binh said that the programme to welcome the first flights in 2023 was one of the traditional cooperation activities between his agency and Da Nang International Airport, thereby showing the prospect of a positive year of growth for the aviation and tourism industries.

He added that in the coming time, the tourism industry will coordinate with Da Nang International Airport, the Da Nang International Terminal Investment and Operation Joint Stock Company and airlines to resume suspended air routes, and at the same time promote the exploitation of key international tourist markets.

Air travel is still the main source of tourists for Da Nang tourism. In 2022, Da Nang welcomed a total of more than 4.4 million air passengers. More than 3.8 million of them were domestic passengers, up 91.7% over the same period in 2019, whilst over 633,000 were international guests, an increase of 17.9% over the same period in 2019.

As of late December 2022, there were 24 domestic and international air routes to Da Nang, of which 15 direct international routes have been restored and operated from South Korea, India, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia, Taiwan and Hong Kong (China) with more than 4,700 flights.

In particular, South Korea is still the main source of international tourists in Da Nang with four flight routes from Incheon, Busan, Daegu, Muan to Da Nang with a frequency of more than 60 flights/week.

Moreover, the strong return of air routes from such Southeast Asian countries as Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore significantly contributed to the structure of international visitors to the city. The potential tourist market of India is expected to continue to grow in the near future. The number of Indian tourists staying in Da Nang in 2022 was estimated at 20,309.

Between December 30, 2022 and January 2, 2023, there were 395 arrival flights, carrying over 58,000 passengers, to Da Nang. Of which, 236 were domestic flights with about 37,000 passengers, and the remaining 159 were international flights with about 21,000 passengers.

According to the municipal Department of Tourism, about 194,120 visitors arrived in Da Nang during Christmas and New Year holidays from December 24, 2022 to January 2, 2023. Nearly 128,350 of them were domestic tourists, and the remaining 65,770 were international visitors.

Particularly for the New Year holiday from December 31, 2022 to January 2, 2023, the total number of tourists to Da Nang reached about 130,780.

Foreigners have fun at the Sun World Ba Na Hills Tourist Area. Photo: THU HA

Always ready to welcome guests

Since early January, public museums, cultural works, and special national-level relic site across Da Nang have recharged entry fees for visitors after one year of implementing the admission fee waiver.

Mr. Nguyen Van Hien, Head of the Authority of the Marble Mountains Tourist Area, informed that on New Year’s Day, the scenic spot welcomed about 4,500 visitors, mainly from South Korea and India.

He added that, since the ‘Ma Nhai’ (Inscriptions) at the Marble Mountains has been recognized as a documentary heritage under the UNESCO Memory of the World for the Asia-Pacific Region Programme, the special national-level relic site has witnessed a significant increase in the number of visitors.

Similarly, such other tourist attractions as Nui Than Tai Hot Spring Park, Sun World Ba Na Hills Tourist Area and Asia Park, organised a number of fascinating entertainment programmes and art shows to serve visitors.

According to Director of Communications and Marketing of the Nui Than Tai Hot Springs Park Le Thi Bich Huong, the park welcomed more than 1,500 visitors on New Year’s Day. Notably, the number of South Korean visitors to the venue increased significantly.

“To serve locals and visitors during the upcoming Tet holiday, the park will organize the Than Tai Temple Festival on January 23, 24, 25 and 30 (the 2^nd, the 3^rd, the 4^th and the 9^th days of the first lunar month).

Festival goers will have the opportunity to experience a wide range of exciting activities such as lion and dragon dance performances, and picking the first buds in the Lunar New Year.

Meanwhile, travel and accommodation businesses operating in the city are now ready to welcome guests during the forthcoming Tet holiday.

Mr. Duong Quang Binh, Director of the Da Nang branch of the Viet Nam Tourism and Transport Marketing JSC (Vietravel), said that a large number of customers have bought domestic and overseas tours during Tet, showing a positive return of foreign tourism after a few years of interruption due to COVID-19 pandemic.

He added that customers in Da Nang often book tours to Thailand, Singapore and South Korea.

Many guests are worried that Tet will be crowded with unsecured services, but travel businesses have actively connected with partners and services to provide the best experience for their customers during the peak tourist season of Tet, Director Binh emphasized.

Reporting by THU HA - Translating by M.DUNG