Linking in tourism development is one of the ways to expand space and effectively tap the great tourism potential a certain locality boasts. The tourism industry of Da Nang and neighbouring localities regularly have developed highly practical activities of linkages and cooperative ties to attract more visitors.

Representatives of the Da Nang Tourism Association sign a memorandum of cooperation with representatives of the tourism industry of 6 northern Vietnamese provinces at a joint tourism promotion programme. Photo: THU HA

Not only paying attention to key international markets, the Da Nang tourism industry also focuses on promoting tourism in localities across the country such as the linkage of Da Nang - Thua Thien Hue - Quang Nam to form a common brand ‘Three localities - One destination’ with outstanding tourism products which are the Central Heritage Road, beach resorts, eco-tourism and community tourism...; linking the localities of Da Nang - Quang Nam - Thua Thien Hue - Quang Binh - Quang Tri with the theme ‘Wonderful Heritage Land’; linking the key economic region of the Central Viet Nam (Binh Dinh - Quang Ngai - Quang Nam - Da Nang - Thua Thien Hue) with Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City; strengthening cooperation with other localities such as Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, Son La, Dak Lak, Lam Dong and Can Tho...

According to recent assessments by tourism businesses, expanding the connection between localities in the region has created favourable conditions for tourism businesses to develop products as well as diversify existing products. In addition to cooperation with other Vietnamese localities, Da Nang is also a destination chosen by many localities to promote and promote tourism.

Since the start of the year, the provinces of Tuyen Quang, Bac Kan and Ninh Thuan have organised practical activities to introduce local tourism to travel businesses in Da Nang for tourism promotion. In the promotion programmes, localities mainly introduced to partners their historical and cultural attractions, new tourism products and specialties, with the desire to connect with tourism businesses, form tourism products and experience exchanges.

According to Mr. Cao Tri Dung, the Chairman of the Da Nang Tourism Association, currently, in addition to air routes, road traffic infrastructure is quite convenient, especially railways have also been significantly improved, forming tourist trains such as the Da Nang - Thua Thien Hue route with the name ‘Central Heritage Connections’.

The connection between localities in the region will help expand tourism space, effectively tap the strengths of each locality, diversify typical tourism products and enhance competitive advantages. Therefore, so as to create a breakthrough in tourism development linkage, localities need to identify common products and inter-route products to attract visitors. 

Once there is a common product, it is necessary to mobilise resources to promote and advertise the common products created through information channels such as social networks, tourism fairs and major events.

According to Mr. Nguyen Minh Xoang, the Director of Hai Van Cat International Travel Company, in order to facilitate cooperation between localities, local businesses must form a favourable ecosystem including tourism products, means of transport, services, suitable to the tastes of customer segments.

Every year, the city’s tourism industry develops a communication and promotion plan to attract visitors, including coordinating with related units to survey, research, and forecast the situation of the tourist market, from which there are specific plans.

Deputy Director in charge of the Da Nang Tourism Promotion Centre Huynh Thi Huong Lan said that, in order to strengthen cooperation to attract visitors, communication and promotion plans are very important. Vietnamese localities can boost cooperation through building a common website and fanpage to provide tourism information to tourists; or can promote their tourism images with the help of celebrities and KOLs (Key Opinion Leaders). When local media channels operate well, they can support each other in posting and sharing information on tourism products developed by these localities to their potential tourists.

Currently, Da Nang tourism is promoting its tourism image on many online channels such as Danang Fantasticity Tourism Portal, Youtube, Instagram, on digital platforms of Klook, KKD, Traveloka, GDL, VTV cap; television, newspapers, KOLs, travel bloggers, cooperating with entertainment companies to organise entertainment programmes broadcast on TV channels.

In addition, the tourism industry is partnering with other localities to actively participate in tourism fairs, organising Da Nang famtrip groups to localities that the city has inked cooperation agreements such as Hai Phong, Can Tho, Quang Ninh and Son La.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoai An, the Deputy Director of the Da Nang Department of Tourism, acknowledged that tourism cooperation will create opportunities to attract even more domestic tourists travelling to and from the cooperating localities, and enhance linkages between tourism businesses.

At the same time, it helps to promote the strengths and potentials of each locality and businesses have the opportunity to cooperate with one another in researching and building new tourism products to bring more diverse travel experiences to tourists.

Reporting by THU HA - Translating by A.THU, V.DUNG