Da Nang is entering the international tourist season. Aside from some existing key markets such as South Korea, Thailand, Hong Kong (China) and India, the local tourism industry is making efforts to diversify international tourist sources in the last months of the year as well as create momentum for development in the following years.

Strengthening promotion, connection and market expansion

Da Nang is assessed by tourism and travel businesses to have good infrastructure to serve MICE groups. IN PHOTO: A group of guests are playing teambuilding at a local beach. Photo: THU HA

Assessing the tourism situation in the coming time, some people say that the current number of visitors has slowed down compared to that in the peak summer tourism season because domestic tourists are no longer travelling.

In addition, the number of international visitors is not much, mainly those from South Korea, Taiwan (China), Thailand, Cambodia and Myanmar.

Previously, Da Nang's largest tourist market was China, but China has not yet resumed outbound tours to Viet Nam. Therefore, local tourism businesses are seeking ways to expand to new markets.

Mr. Tran Hung, Communications Manager of Wyndham Danang Golden Bay Hotel, said that, currently the hotel's guest source is mainly from the South Korean market. However, in order to expand a number of customer markets from now until the end of the year and in the coming time, hotel leaders are promoting and connecting with partners in Hong Kong (China) market as well as other key markets.

Most recently, the city’s tourism industry has recently conducted a promotion trip to the Indian market. During the trip, Director of the municipal Department of Tourism Truong Thi Hong Hanh has worked with travel companies that are bringing tourists to Viet Nam in general, and Da Nang in particular, such as Motherson Air Travel, Dream Trip4U, Luxury Vacations & Holiday, and ATG Holidays.

Mr. Anuj Anand, Sales Director of the Motherson Air Travel, informed that his company will take customers to new destinations, including Da Nang, in the coming time.

Mr. Nguyen Duc Quynh, Chairman of the Da Nang Hotel Association cum General Director of Furama Danang Resort, stressed the need for the municipal government and tourism businesses to research the market more meticulously about each customer segment, as well as work with airlines and spend a certain amount of funding to promote Da Nang destinations and the city's events in magazines placed on airlines' flights. This is a convenient way to reach millions of customers around the world.

Mr. Nguyen Duc Quynh also suggested that the city should have promotion programmes and create alliances between cities with destinations connected to Da Nang to exchange visitors.

He also proposed the city to promote the opening of new direct flights, and advertise the existing air routes so that the flights are always full of passengers, thereby bringing about the sustainable development of the local tourism.

Tourism products at tourist destinations have also been added to diversify to serve large groups of tourists. IN PHOTO: Guests doing canoeing at the Nui Than Tai Hot Spring Park. Photo: THU HA

Targeting MICE customer market

Da Nang boasts great potential for the development of the M.I.C.E (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) market, including good infrastructure and high-quality services, and suitable policies.

Therefore, the local tourism industry and businesses are doing their utmost to attract this influx of visitors.

Mr. Vinay Arora, Director of the ATG Holidays company, said that his company had brought large MICE groups from India to Da Nang in late 2022 and was very satisfied with the quality of the city’s services and infrastructure.

Recently, Micenet - the leading reputable MICE tourism news site in Australia and New Zealand, has commented that Da Nang is increasingly asserting its position in the region, and is becoming an ideal destination for businesses to organise MICE tourism.

According to Micenet experts, Da Nang has been emerging as an ideal destination in the region for businesses to organise MICE-related activities thanks to its favourable geographic position of being located between two world heritage sites: Quang Nam Province’s Hoi An Ancient Town and Hue City, long and beautiful beaches, and domestic and international luxury 5-star resort brands.

Notably, the InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort has received 6 reservations for seminars and conferences in the fields of information technology and health care until 2024.

Mr. Seif Hamdy, General Manager of the InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort, said that the resort has many meeting rooms and function rooms, and can arrange a night club for groups to have fun after parties. Besides, it offers many outdoor activities such as sports, team building, and corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities.

According to the latest statistics released by the Da Nang Tourism Promotion Center, in the first 9 months of 2023, the city has welcomed nearly 111 MICE delegations with about 33,500 guests, including 45 domestic delegations and 66 international ones from such foreign markets as India, Malaysia, Taiwan (China), Spain, and France.

In the coming time, the city's tourism industry will continue to have promotion and advertising plans in target markets and expand new markets to attract this customer market.

Reporting by THU HA - Translating by M.DUNG