Da Nang is an attractive tourist destination; however, attracting domestic and foreign tourists is not " a piece of cake" for tourism workers. New types of tourism, more investment sources and additional products are the ways that the Da Nang tourism industry is choosing to attract tourists.

Tourists participate in marine sports activities. Photo: THU HA

Proactively and flexibly build products

Many people say that Da Nang is one of the localities with all the conditions and competitiveness to become a regional and international tourism centre. Thanks to the combination of tourism resources, infrastructure systems and service facilities, Da Nang's tourism products are very different.

As a business specializing in bringing tourists from Southeast Asian markets to Da Nang, Director of Da Nang-based Indochina Unique Tourist company Nguyen Son Thuy commented that the current tourist travel trend has had many changes and factors. The important thing to attract tourists is to create tourism products. Not to mention, each customer market often has different needs and tastes. Therefore, businesses must be proactive and flexible to build up products and attract customers.

Mr. Thuy shared: “We are trying to diversify types of tourism, bringing new experiences to foreign tourists, looking for new tourism products, creating a competition advantage, increasing interaction between tourists and local residents, and at the same time, always paying attention to upgrading better tourism services, increasing service value in each stage such as accommodation, dining, transportation, shopping, advising domestic partners and service providers to build more novel products and services, building separate value chains for each customer line with different nationalities and unique characteristics. Examples, Lao tourists like seafood and swimming whilst Thai ones like central region’s specialties; those from the Philippines focus on goods and shopping; Taiwanese (Chinese) and Malaysian tourists enjoy night experiences, massages, and Han River boat trips; Indian and Muslim guests are even more particular about Halal cuisine, vegetarian dishes and other tourist services. Each market has different characteristics, we must explore, research and adapt in building suitable tourism products for each market...".

Sharing the same opinion, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Thien, the Deputy Director of Hai Van Cat International Travel Company, assessed that in recent times, the tourism industry and businesses in the city have invested strongly in developing tourism experience products so as to create a favourable and attractive environment for tourists. Tourist experience products in Da Nang are currently quite diverse and rich.

Visitors can participate in activities such as boating, scuba diving, surfing, mountain climbing and visiting monuments and landscapes.

Enhance the application of digital technology and promote tourism

However, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Thien also believes that meeting the needs and tastes of tourists is a continuous and constantly improving process. Da Nang needs to maintain and upgrade tourism infrastructure, improve services and respond to new trends in the tourism industry to attract more international tourists and encourage them to expend their stay periods and make comeback to the city.

Therefore, it is necessary to ensure the safety and health of tourists, strengthen consulting services so that visitors can be updated with the latest and most accurate information, as well as develop flexible tour products and services suitable to tourists’ schedules.

In particular, it is necessary to enhance digital experience, technology applications, social networking sites, and information channels to interact with customers, create unique and personalised experiences by building small tours, local cultural experience groups, or service activities in a bid to bring a difference.

According to Chairman of the Da Nang Tourism Association Cao Tri Dung, few destinations possess rich natural resource values (sea, coast, forests, mountains, rivers and lakes); diverse surrounding and nearby cultural heritages (Hoi An ancient town, My Son Sanctuary, Hue ancient capital relics, Hue royal court music...); transportation infrastructure system, complete and high-class accommodation services meet most of the increasing needs of tourists like in Da Nang.

Today's tourist marketing trends have many changes in considering choosing destinations or organising events, so tourism professionals must also quickly adapt to supplement accordingly.

Mr. Dung pointed out that today's tourists not only need to see, observe and listen to explanations from tour guides at tourist attractions, but also want to participate in daily activities of tourist attractions, experience cultural activities on the spot, take classes to gain a deeper understanding of the destination and have an enjoyable time with relatives and friends.

Also, travelling combined with participating in major music, sports and entertainment events is increasingly popular, especially among young tourists.

Tourists often plan to participate in sports or entertainment events held throughout the year at home and abroad, combined with sightseeing and exploring the destination where the aforementioned events are held.

To keep up with changing trends in tourist’ tastes, habits and needs, the tourism industry needs to continue to develop and perfect its pillar product groups, diversify tourism products to capture tourist trends and increase rich experiences at tourist attractions, thereby creating the basic foundation to attract tourists from many different markets.

Besides, it is also necessary to promote communication and promotion activities to key markets, with a heed paid to choosing appropriate products and services suitable to each tourist source market, using specific languages, choosing popular advertising channels in the market and investing in advertising forms that suit tastes and habits of tourists in that market, Mr. Dung suggested.

Reportiing by THU HA - Translating by A.THU