A workshop on promoting digital economy in the South Central and Central Highlands regions was officially held at the Binh Dinh Provincial Convention Centre on Wednesday.

The event was co-organised by the Tien Phong Newspaper, Binh Dinh Provincial People's Committee, and VNPT Posts and Telecommunications Group.

The workshop in progress

Digital economy enhances regional links

According to statistics released by the National Committee on Digital Transformation, Viet Nam's digital transformation achieved many positive results. In particular, Viet Nam leaped two places in the Global Innovation Index (GII) in 2023, ranking 46^th out of 132 countries and territories, continuously maintaining in the group of the 50 leading countries from 2018 to present.

Viet Nam climbed one place from 2021 to rank 38^th and reached level 6/10. The country recorded the fastest digital economic growth in Southeast Asia for two consecutive years 2022 and 2023.

E-commerce increased by 11%, tourism digital economy 82%, and digital payment 19%. The digital economy in 2023 contributed about 16.5% of the national GDP.

Recently, many provinces/cities in the region have paid attention to boosting digital transformation on all three pillars: digital government, digital economy and digital society.

Da Nang - Smart tourism ecosystem from digital transformation

In her remarks at the workshop, Ms. Le Thi Ai Diep, Head of Accommodation Management Division under the Da Nang Department of Tourism, highlighted the significance of boosting digital transformation in improving competitiveness, creating resilience and promoting early development of the local tourism industry.

She pointed out that promoting technology application and digital transformation will help the tourism industry more effectively exploit values from the digital environment, enhance competitiveness, and ensure the sustainable development.

Specifically, Da Nang has issued many guidelines and policies on digital transformation, in which the tourism industry has effectively applied information technology and digital transformation by providing 100% online public services at level 4. The online application rate reached 100%.

The municipal Department of Tourism has actively supported businesses in implementing digital transformation through activities such as promulgating a digital transformation plan for the tourism industry until 2025, with a vision to 2030; and organising in-depth training programmes on how to foster digital transformation at tourism firms. Heed has been on searching and introducing digital transformation solution providers to tourism businesses.

Non-cash payment methods; the use of e-ticket cards and explanation models through QR Code; and the applications of Virtual Reality (VR) or Augmented Reality (AR) technology have been promoted at tourist spots in the city, thereby increasing experiences and amenities for visitors, contributing to introducing the image and beauty of the city to domestic and foreign tourists.

The municipal Department of Tourism has put into operation applications to promote Da Nang tourism as well as support businesses in introducing and advertising products and services to visitors to the city, including Chatbot, tourism information portal, Danang Fantasticity app, online fair, the VR360 virtual tourism system 'One touch to Da Nang', smart travel cards, and online payments.

At the same time, the unit has laid an emphasis on giving a helping hand to tourism businesses to create added value for tourism products and services as well as to access digital transformation solutions to improve operational efficiency and competitiveness capability.

The good implementation of digital transformation in the tourism sector contributes to upholding Da Nang's tourism brand and attractiveness, which demonstrated through many prestigious international titles and awards.

In particular, the city was named among top most popular destinations in Asia in 2022 voted by readers of TripAdvisor, the world-famous American travel site, and ranked 3^rd among top destinations in the Southeast Asia 2022.

The city was voted among the 11 best places to visit in Asia in 2024 by readers of the US magazine Condé Nast Traveller. It was also listed by Booking.com as the domestic destination most searched by Vietnamese tourists in the summer of 2023.

The central coastal city was also an ideal destination for businesses to organize MICE tourism, and for Indian tourists. It has secured the 2^nd position globally as a destination for digital nomads, according to Outlook Traveller travel magazine.

With clear blue waters, soft white sands, romantic coconut trees and a safe tourist environment, the My Khe Beach in Da Nang’s Son Tra District has just ranked in sixth place in the list of Asia’s top 10 most beautiful beaches in 2024.

Reporting by PV - Translating by M.DUNG