In the first half of 2023, Da Nang welcomed 13 cruise ships carrying a combined total of 8,300 passengers. The figure was announced by the municipal Department of Tourism at a recent discussion about the development orientations of cruise tourism in Da Nang and measures to remove the existing obstacles facing this tourism segment in the coming time.

Tourists arriving in Da Nang by cruise ship. Photo: DNO

The cruise tourism market has a large number of high spending tourists from many regions and long-term tours for the purpose of sightseeing, entertainment, exchanges, enjoyment and exploring the local cultural identity. Da Nang is expected to welcome cruise ships from November this year to April next year.

Cruise ships docking at the Da Nang seaport are all big and belong to famous shipping lines in the world. In order to attract more tourists arriving in Da Nang, cruise ship operators have actively built many attractive and unique tourism programmes over the past time.

The city has focused on investing in the development of attractions, shopping and entertainment services to better serve guests. In particular, traditional art performance programmes at Nguyen Hien Dinh Tuong (Classic Drama) Theater, Da Nang Charming Show, Ao Dai Story and marine sports and entertainment activities have contributed to significantly diversifying local tourism products and services for visitors.

In addition, heed has paid to ensuring a good tourist environment and preventing tourist harassments, especially during the times when the cruise ships docked and passengers were brought ashore, thereby creating peace of mind for tourists during their stay in  this coastal central Vietnamese hub of tourism.

Representatives of businesses exploiting cruise ship tourists recommended that the city need to have specific solutions to develop cruise tourism in the near future such as speeding up the construction of Lien Chieu cargo port, studying the plan to transform and upgrade the current Tien Sa port with specialized infrastructure to serve cruise ship passengers.

Also, a parking spot for shutter buses that carry tourists from the port to a certain point for sightseeing should be created.

Appeals should be made for investment capital into the formation of international standard passenger services at the port such as waiting rooms, on-site entertainment and shopping services, pick-up and drop-off points for cruise tourists.

Relevant units must conduct market research and survey to create specific tourism products, and product chains for this type of tourists.

Reporting by THU HA - Translating by A.THU