Da Nang Attracts International Tourists

While the number of international visitors to Vietnam tended to decline during the first four months of the year, the number of international visitors to Da Nang still maintained growth. However, Da Nang’s tourism industry needs specific solutions to attract international visitors sustainably.
According to Mr. Huynh Tan Vinh, Chairman of the Da Nang Tourism Association, compared to the two ends of the country, the number of international visitors to Da Nang in the first months of the year remained stable and grew by about 10%. Da Nang has maintained this growth thanks to new air routes attracting visitors from markets such as South Korea, Japan, China, and Thailand to replace the declining number of European visitors.

On the other hand, the increase in visitors is also because at the beginning of 2015, Da Nang was continuously rated by international websites as an attractive destination and the most promising emerging destination of 2015 in criteria such as destination, accommodation, restaurants, attractions…

From actual feedback from tourists, Mr. Huynh Tan Vinh believes that Da Nang should immediately implement VAT refunds for visitors when shopping in Da Nang, or should have duty-free shopping points and tax refund points at the airport for tourists to stimulate spending and create favorable conditions for entry and exit; support and offer incentives to tourism businesses; and at the same time create distinctive tourism products specifically for international visitors.

In addition, Central Vietnam cuisine is very diverse and rich, which will be extremely attractive experiences for international visitors. Da Nang should also have a strategy to professionally promote the cuisine of this region to the world in order to truly attract tourists.

According to the results of a tourist survey in Da Nang under the “Environmentally and Socially Responsible Tourism Capacity Development Programme” funded by the European Union, the main purposes of international visitors coming to Da Nang are sightseeing and vacation, and the average length of stay is 6.01 nights. About 79.11% of international visitors came to Da Nang for the first time and more than 60% were likely to return. This shows that diversifying tourism products and enriching entertainment activities help attract and retain international visitors in Da Nang.

As one of the travel companies handling a fairly large number of international visitors to Da Nang through MICE tourism (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions), Mr. Le Tan Thanh Tung, Deputy General Director of Vietnam Tourism Joint Stock Company (Vitours), believes that regularly promoting the city’s tourism image in international markets will help exploit many potential visitor sources. In addition to familiar markets, targeting new markets is also necessary for Da Nang’s tourism industry to avoid shortages of visitors when fluctuations occur.

To strengthen and attract visitors in some key emerging markets, the city’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism is preparing tourism promotion programs for the three localities of Thua Thien Hue, Da Nang, and Quang Nam in South Korea; participating in Thailand Travel Mart TTM+; and continuing communication and promotion of the title “Da Nang – The Most Attractive Emerging Destination in the World 2015”; building the documentary script “Joining Hands to Build a Friendly and Attractive Tourism Environment”; continuing to publish Fantastic City, Da Thanh cuisine, MICE tourism, and organizing the Da Nang beautiful photo contest.