Adding new tourism products, enhancing thematic products, opening more air routes, expanding tourist source market system are recommendations made by businesses at a recent meeting hosted by the Department of Tourism on how to attracting more South Korean and Japanese tourist markets

Foreign tourists are seen on Bach Dang Street, Da Nang. Photo: THU HA

Campaign to woo tourists back

According to the Da Nang Department of Tourism, the total number of South Korean visitors to Da Nang in the first 4 months of the year reached 636,964, accounting for 41.3% of the total international visitors, making it Da Nang’s leading international tourist source market.

The total number of Japanese visitors to Da Nang reached 47,508, accounting for 3.3% of the total international visitors, being listed into the top 10 international tourist source markets for Da Nang.

For a long time, both South Korea and Japan have been Da Nang’s traditional markets. In the current context of high destination competition, finding solutions to attract visitors from these markets is essential.

According to Mr. Tran Van Lang, Director of Seven Star Ha Noi Company that targets South Korean tourist market, the number of South Korean visitors currently makes up for about 45% of the total arrivals in Da Nang.

As long as this ratio is maintained and the existing market share of tourists is maintained, the number of visitors from this foreign market to Da Nang will be kept stable. It is important to pay more attention to accompanying services so that guests can have the best experience during their Da Nang trip.

Mr. Nguyen Duc Hanh, the Chairman of the Board of Members of Icon Trading Service Company Limited, acknowledged that tourists often tend to look for new markets to replace destinations they have visited.

The current general trend is that more people travel individually or with families than in groups. The city should invest in attractive tourism products, especially night services, so that tourists can experience more.

Ms. Bao Ly, a representative of the Viet Nam Travelmart Joint Stock Company, proposed that the city's tourism industry should launch a strategy to attract South Korean visitors who have come to Da Nang by calling on service providers and tourism businesses and resorts to offer gratitude programmes and discounts for tourists who return to Da Nang for the second time or more.

With regard to the Japanese passenger market, there is currently only one flight route from Narita (Japan) to Da Nang operated by national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines with a frequency of 7 flights/week so the number of visitors to Da Nang is still limited.

Ms. Le Thi Thu Huyen, a representative of H.I.S Song Han Viet Nam Company, underlined a need to promote Da Nang tourism, the tourism industry should support travel agents to woo Japanese students to Da Nang for travel.

Add new products, expand tourist source markets

According to Chairman of the Da Nang Tourism Association Cao Tri Dung, the Japanese and South Korean markets are very important for the Da Nang destination. These are two potential markets for the tourism industry, so the city uses a lot of potential to retain and attract tourists.

However, businesses need to promote tourism new localities in South Korea instead of just some traditional provinces and cities as before. It is also a need to form a group of businesses that specialises in exploiting these customer markets, and connect more with businesses in the host country for more cooperation.

Particularly for the Japanese market, for more demanding customers, other solutions can be considered such as increasing charter flights apart from regular routes, building specialised products for each customer group.

“The Association is ready to coordinate with relevant parties to deploy activities to attract customers in the best way. It's important that the business community, especially large businesses, need to join hands to make attracting customers more convenient.”, Mr. Cao Tri Dung proposed.

Foreign tourists visit Linh Ung Pagoda, Son Tra District, Da Nang Photo: THU HA

So as to attract visitors from the South Korean market, in July, the city's tourism industry will launch a programme to introduce new products of Da Nang such as events, festivals, cuisine, night tours, jetsky, promotion programme to attract MICE delegations in Seoul, Busan (South Korea); welcoming South Korean travel famtrip groups to survey Da Nang's tourism products, services and infrastructure.

For the Japanese market, in addition to normal promotion and advertising activities, the city's tourism industry will participate in the Tourism Expo in Tokyo (Japan); welcoming Japanese travel famtrip groups to survey golf tourism and school tourism in Da Nang, promoting the restoration/opening of new air routes between Japanese cities and Da Nang.

According to Director of the Department of Tourism Truong Thi Hong Hanh the tourism industry will continue to strengthen promotional activities and destinations and perfect products. The city will soon launch a customer appreciation campaign in South Korean markets to woo tourists back, build Da Nang as a regular destination for South Korean tourists, and develop new Japanese customer segments such as MICE and school visitors, thereby hoping to join efforts with businesses to maintain increasingly sustainable development of the city tourism.

Besides, tourism businesses need to have their own new ideas and ways of doing things,self-improve services, create new products and experiences for tourists, and actively participate in promotion and advertising activities to partners and tourist source markets. Domestic businesses can connect to create good quality ecosystems and destinations, affirming the destination brand.

Reporting by THU HA - Translating by A.THU