In order to diversify international tourism source markets, Da Nang’s tourism industry and businesses have continuously taken promotional trips to accelerate the opening of new flight routes connecting with other parts of the world. Once there are flight routes, attracting visitors to Da Nang will, of course, be much smoother.

International visitors arrive at the Da Nang International Airport. Photo: THU HA

According to data from the Da Nang Department of Statistics, in the first half of 2024, the total number of visitors staying at local accommodation establishments reached an estimated about 5.1 million, an increase of 25.6% from the same period in 2023. Of this, there were 2 million international visitors, up by 40.3% over the same period, and 3.1 million domestic ones, up by 17.7% from year-ago period.

The growth in the number of international visitors to Da Nang shows the efforts exerted by the city’s tourism industry over recent times. Along with the promotion and advertising activities carried out regularly and continuously in key and target source markets, the city's tourism industry has also strengthened connections and cooperation with airlines in resuming routes or opening new ones.

According to a representative of the International Terminal Investment and Operation Joint Stock Company (AHT), the flight schedule of international airlines to Da Nang in the summer of 2024, exactly from March 31 to October 26, recorded an average of about 100 arrivals and departures/day.

The peak was in June, with an average of about 102 arrivals and departures/day, an increase of 2% compared to the average daily output of the summer of 2024. July 2024 witnessed a rise of 7.37% from the same month of 2023, with an average of 95 arrivals and departures/day.

It is expected that from September 2024, Malaysia Airlines will operate the Kuala Lumpur - Da Nang route with a frequency of 7 flights/week.

Recently, in order to open more new routes linking to foreign countries in the region, Da Nang-based tourism businesses have coordinated with relevant units to organise the reception of famtrip delegations that wanted to survey tourism services in the city, along with promoting flights taken by tour groups and businesses from Indonesia, including representatives of Citilink, a fast-growing low-cost carrier based in Jakarta, Indonesia.

It is known that this airline plans to operate charter flights from Jakarta to Da Nang by the end of 2024.

According to Mr. Joseph, the Asia Regional Sales Director for Citilink Airlines, Da Nang and Viet Nam’s central region, are creating attraction for the Indonesian tourist source market, and Citilink Airlines plans to coordinate with travel companies in Da Nang and the central region to open flights from Jakarta to Da Nang in the fourth quarter of 2024.

Flights contribute to attracting more tourists to Da Nang. Tourists visit the Marble Mountains special national relic site. Photo: THU HA

In the immediate future, the airline plans to operate with a frequency of 2 flights/week and will increase the frequency after developing a stable number of passengers. For the time being, Hong Kong Airlines operates a daily round-trip flight from Hong Kong (China) to Da Nang with a frequency of 7 flights/week.

According to a senior official from Hong Kong Airlines, the operation of the Hong Kong - Da Nang route will help passengers have more options to travel between the two destinations. Young people can freely explore new land, while businessmen can also travel for cooperation and professional development opportunities. Along with that, the Hong Kong - Da Nang route will expand the scope of Hong Kong Airlines' flight network in Southeast Asia.

Mr. Nguyen Minh Xoang, the Director of Hai Van Cat International Travel Joint Stock Company, assessed that the airlines’ introduction of new routes not only contributes to recovering a network of international flights to Da Nang but also opens up many opportunities to connect this central coastal Vietnamese city with other international destinations in the Southeast Asian, and around the world in general. Once there are direct flights, exploiting new customer markets is also much more convenient.

Currently, 16 regular international flight routes links Da Nang with other destinations in the world.

As reported by Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoai An, the Deputy Director of the Da Namg Department of Tourism. In recent times, the city has continuously had business trips which aimed at promoting tourism and accelerating the opening of new routes.

The fact that airlines are operating flights to Da Nang shows a positive sign for the city’s tourism. Da Nang is in the recovery and growth stage and sees opportunities to diversify markets through the operation of flights by airlines.

Along with flights from traditional markets, there are new airlines operating existing routes; increasing the number of flights from new markets, hereby contributing to diversifying the international tourism source market.

Recently, Hong Kong Airlines has been the third of its kind to operate the Hong Kong - Da Nang route, which will contribute to attracting more tourists from key source markets.

“Before COVID-19, China was a key source market for the Da Nang tourism. In an effort to attract visitors, the Da Nang Department of Tourism is expected to organise promotional programmes in Shenzhen and Guangzhou (China) in the third and fourth quarters. In addition, the city’s tourism industry will have promotional activities at fairs, work with relevant businesses and units soon to speed up the connection and reopening of charter flights for these routes,” Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoai An said.

Reporting by THU HA - Translating by A.THU