In their efforts to lure more tourists as well as expand international markets, Da Nang’s tourism industry and businesses have been making efforts to search for new markets as well as open new air routes. Direct flights are the bridge, creating the most favourable conditions for tourists.

Visitors at the Da Nang International Airport

Data from the municipal Department of Tourism shows that, by the end of September 2023, Da Nang had 34 air routes including 8 domestic and 26 international routes, of which 15 are regular direct flights, and 11 direct charter flights.

Da Nang welcomes about 110-118 flights per day, of which, 45-48 are international flights, and 65-70 are domestic flights.

During the 9-month period, the total number of flights to Da Nang reached about 34,485, representing 93.77% compared to the same period in 2019. 13,688 of them were international flights, equal to 82.09% over the same period in 2019, whilst 20,797 were domestic flights, up 3.46% over the same period in 2019.

Over the past 9 months, Da Nang welcomed 770,211 South Korea visitors, accounting for 48.1% of the total number of international tourists to the city, 147,724 Thai visitors (9.2%), 123,936 Taiwanese visitors (7.7%), 74,503 American visitors (4.7%), 67,456 Indian visitors (4.2%), 65,072 Malaysian visitors (4.1%), 55,677  Japanese visitors (3.5%), 52,454 Chinese visitors (3.3%), 33,055 Australian visitors (2.1%), and 26,043 Singaporean visitors (1.6% ).

Director of the municipal Department of Tourism Truong Thi Hong Hanh said that the number of individual tourists accounts for a very high proportion, about 80% of the total number of tourists staying in Da Nang. The number of tourists in groups operated by travel agencies makes up by 15-20% of the total.

Tourists are looking for unique vacations with a focus on environmentally friendly tourism services, green tourism, community-based tourism and mental health care tourism. Not to mention, airlines face difficulties due to regulations on granting flight slots.

In addition, according to forecasts of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), global tourism recovery will take place in 2023 with the slow but steady return of the Chinese market.

Viet Nam’s tourism industry is still facing many difficulties and challenges because international routes have not fully been recovered.

Water spraying ceremony when a Singapore Airlines flight lands at Da Nang International Airport. Photo: THU HA

In recent times, the municipal government and the tourism industry have made great efforts to promote the opening of new air routes. In particular, the city has worked with Emirates Airline to open flight routes to UAE; and Indigo Airlines, Vistara and Air India to reopen flights to India.

Additionally, the city has coordinated with the Da Nang International Terminal Investment and Operation JSC to work with representatives of the Fukuoka Airport to promote the opening of flights to Fukuoka and Osaka in Japan, and Cebu in the Philippines.

Director of the Duy Nhat Indochina Tourism Co., Ltd. Nguyen Son Thuy stressed the need for local tourism business to focus on key markets in Southeast Asia such as Thailand and Malaysia, as well as expand new tourist markets.

Heed should be on building a network of representative offices abroad to promote Vietnamese tourism in general and localities including Da Nang in particular.

Sharing the same opinion, Chairman of the Da Nang Tourism Association Cao Tri Dung underlined a must-do for the city to continue to target new destinations, especially the Indian, Indonesian, and Australian markets.

Mrs. Truong Thi Hong Hanh said that in the last months of 2023 and 2024, the city's tourism industry will focus on promoting and restoring regular and charter international flights from China, North American and European markets, Indonesia, India, the Philippines, Thailand’s Phuket, South Korea’s Gangwon and Australia.

Reporting by THU HA - Translating by M.DUNG