In the first months of 2024, the growth of international tourist markets, along with the continuous attraction of large MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) tourist groups to Da Nang is expected to make the city's tourism industry improve significantly this year.

The Da Nang tourism industry has made great efforts to attract tourists in recent times. International tourists shop at the Son Tra night market. Photo: THU HA

Rise in international visitor numbers

According to the Da Nang Department of Tourism, in the first quarter of 2024, the total number of visitors served by accommodation establishments will reach more than 1.88 million, up 23.4% over the same period in 2023 and up 12.6% over the same period in 2019.

Meanwhile, there were nearly 636,000 international visitors, an increase of 21.6% over the same period in 2023, equal to 99% over the same period in 2019. Especially, during the break for the National Reunification Day (April 30) and International Workers’ Day (May 1), the total number of visitors staying in Da Nang reached more than 336,000, an increase of 11.6% over the same period in 2023. Of this, international visitors will reach about 72,000, more than 2 times higher than the same period in 2023.

The above-mentioned data shows that the number of international visitors to Da Nang this year has increased significantly compared to before.

International tourist source markets accounting for a large proportion of Da Nang include South Korea (42.2%), Taiwan (China) (9.9%), Thailand (7.7%), China (5.5%), the United State (4.5%), India (4.4%), Japan (3.4%), Malaysia (3.4%).

According to Deputy Director of the Department of Tourism Nguyen Thi Hoai An, thanks to international flights to Da Nang being continuously restored and opened, currently, there have beeen 16 regular international routes connecting Da Nang with Bangkok (Thailand), Singapore, Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Taipei, Taichung, Kaohsiung (Taiwan - China), Macau (China), Hong Kong (China), Siem Reap (Cambodia), Incheon - Busan - Daegu - Cheongju (Korea), Narita (Japan) and Laos with a frequency of 52 flights to Da Nang/day.

In addition, there has also been a significant increase in tourists coming to Da Nang vby sea from the European, the United States, Chinese, Australian markets. Since the start of 2024, there have been 21 cruise ships docking at the Tien Sa Port carrying a total of 25,000 passengers whilst rhe whole year 2023 witnessed only 22 trips with a sum of 18,100 passengers.

In addition, the city has attracted about 20 weddings in the form of wedding tourism of overseas Vietnamese couples from India, Australia, Japan, and Taiwan (China), Singapore and the United State. In particular, 4 Indian couples  organised large wedding parties in Da Nang attracting a total more than 1,000 guests.

Recently, in an effort to attract international tourist markets to Da Nang, the city's tourism industry has welcomed famtrip groups; participating in the SATTE in India, South Asia's leading B2B Travel Exhibition, uniting global high-quality buyers for networking, business opportunities & growth, and organised a tourism promotion programme in the Indian market.

In the future, the city's tourism industry will continue to organise promotional programmes in other key international source markets such as Taiwan (China) in June, Korea (July), Indonesia, Malaysia, China, Australia, Japan (from July to December); promote the opening of direct international flights to Da Nang from the markets of China, Indonesia, India, Japan (Nagoya, Osaka), Australia, and promote the exploitation of the market for sea travelers, MICE and wedding tourism.

Promote MICE visitor attraction

Deputy Director of the Da Nang Tourism Promotion Centre Mai Thi Thanh Hai said that in 2023, the city has attracted 163 MICE groups with a combined total of 45,344 domestic and international tourists.

To contribute to the recovery of the tourism industry with the expectation of positioning Da Nang as the leading destination for MICE tourism in Southeast Asia, in 2024, the municipal Department of Tourism focuses on advising the municipal People's Committee to implement a pomotion programme to attract MICE tourists to Da Nang.

In addition to general incentives for both domestic and international MICE visitors, in 2024, for groups of 500 or more guests, the city will expand the content of supporting front-line groups. Support from the municipal administration will be provided for MICE delegations that consist 50 - 199, 200 - 349, 350 - 499 and from 500 tourists or more, along with special groups.

It is known that in the first 4 months of 2024, Da Nang welcomed 42 domestic and international MICE delegations with more than 12,600 visitors, comprising of 13 domestic and 29 international delegations from markets such as India, Thailand, South Korea, Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia and multinational delegations.

Large-scale, prominent MICE delegations include the Hiphop festival - RF Summer Jam 2024 (4,400 guests) Corteva Agriscience Co., Ltd. delegation (720 guests), MICE JAC delegation (650 domestic guests), Syngenta FPT delegation (550 domestic guests), British pharmaceutical company delegation (500 multinational guests), Credai India delegation (400 guests), Pharmaceutical Philippines Inc delegation (370 guests), JK Cement Limited India delegation (256 guests), Buddhist delegation (347 domestic guests); the group of guests from the Gastroenterology Association (250 domestic guests).

Attracting MICE visitors from international markets is always of deep concern to the city's tourism industry. Recently, at the Asia-Pacific Conference Exhibition - The Meetings Show Asia Pacific 2024 took place in Singapore under the theme ‘The role of Asia-Pacific in reshaping the global MICE industry’, representatives from the Ariyana International Convention Palace participated in the event to connect with partners about the MICE venues in Da Nang.

Mr. Prabhakar Singh, Director of Sales and Marketing, Ariyana Da Nang International Convention Palace, said that, at the event, international partners and potential customers had the opportunity to connect with leaders in Viet Nam’s MICE industry.

The special attention paid to Da Nang by partners and customers at the MICE exhibition was clear evidence of the city's potential as well as the effectiveness of the strategies deployed by businesses and the tourism industry to promote Da Nang's MICE capabilities to other parts of the world.

Reporting by THU HA - Translating by A.THU