The Da Nang Department of Tourism and Vietjet Air on Wednesday organised a ceremony to launch a new flight service linking the vibrant central city of Da Nang with Ahmedabad, a cultural hub of India.

Vice Chairwoman of the Da Nang People's Committee Nguyen Thi Anh Thi (middle) and representatives of departments, agencies, and businesses press the button to launch the Da Nang - Ahmedabad route. Photo: THU HA

Addressing the opening ceremony, Da Nang People’s Committee Vice Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Anh Thi said that this event marked an important milestone in connecting Da Nang, one of the leading tourist destinations in Viet Nam, with Ahmedabad.

In the nine months of 2024, the city’s tourism industry achieved impressive results such as welcoming 8.67 million overnight visitors, more than 3.17 million of whom were international ones. In particular, the Indian market reached 139,086 arrivals, an increase of 4.2% over the same period in 2023 under the condition that there were no direct flights from major cities in India to Da Nang.

In recent years, Indian tourists have gradually known Da Nang as an ideal destination for their trips high-class and is the wedding venue of Indian billionaires. Over the past time, the city has received and provided information support for 20/91 Indian MICE tourist groups, attracting 4 large weddings of Indian couples with a total of more than 1,200 guests.

Vice Chairwoman of the Da Nang People's Committee Nguyen Thi Anh Thi said that the opening of a direct flight from Da Nang to Ahmedabad is of great significance, creating favourable conditions to attract and increase international tourists from Ahmedabad, and India as a whole, to experience attractive destinations, enjoy unique cuisine and enjoy typical tourism products in Da Nang – Asia’s leading festival and event destination.

Mr. Do Xuan Quang (right), Deputy General Director of Vietjet, presents a souvenir to Vice Chairwoman of the City People's Committee Nguyen Thi Anh Thi. Photo: THU HA

The Da Nang - Ahmedabad flight route was launched not only to meet the increasing travel demand between the two countries but also to open up new opportunities for cooperation in the fields of economics, education, culture and technology.

“Da Nang is a dynamic city with a strong economic development, an international gateway of Central Viet Nam to the world. Ahmedabad, a city rich in cultural traditions and a major economic centre of India, will be an attractive destination for tourists and investors,” affirmed the Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee.

The new route operates two round trips weekly, using Airbus A320 aircraft with a seating capacity of 180. Flights from Da Nang will depart at 7:10pm, arriving in Ahmedabad city at 11:25pm on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The return flights from Ahmedabad will leave at 12:25am, landing back in Da Nang at 6:55am on Thursdays and Sundays.

In the opposite direction, the plane departs from Ahmedabad at 0:25 (local time) and lands at 06:55 (local time) on Thursdays and Sundays.

After launching the Da Nang - Ahmedabad route, on Thursday morning, the Department of Tourism coordinated with Vietjet Air to organise a programme to welcome the first flight from Ahmedabad (India) - Da Nang. They were greeted with gifts, check-in photos, and music performances upon their arrival at the Da Nang International Airport.

Within the framework of the programme, the city welcomed a famtrip delegation including representatives of 20 travel companies and a presstrip delegation of 19 journalists from India to survey Da Nang tourism and write in-depth articles promoting Da Nang tourism in major Indian newspapers.

The delegations will have four days to experience typical tourism products of Da Nang, including Sun World Ba Na Hills, Son Tra Peninsula, Linh Ung Pagoda, Marble Mountains and Hoi An.

It is known that Da Nang focuses on promoting to the Indian market through many outstanding activities such as organising programmes to introduce Da Nang tourism in Mumbai, New Delhi, organising welcome ceremonies for famtrip delegations representing travel agencies, events, wedding planners from India to survey destinations, infrastructure, and connect with Da Nang tourism businesses.

In addition, the city participates in the South Asia’s Travel and Tourism Exchange SATTE, welcomes famtrip delegations, Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) from Ahmedabad (India); promotes online communication of Da Nang tourism on Instagram page for the Indian market, offering them a firsthand experience of Da Nang’s charm.

Additionally, online tourism promotion efforts have been underway on Instagram specifically targeting the Indian market.

Reporting by THU HA, VAN HOANG - Translating by A.THU