The central coastal city of Da Nang has witnessed a dramatic increase of foreign tourist arrivals by cruise ships during the first two months of 2012.

About 20,000 foreign visitors, mostly from Europe and Asia , arrived in Tien Sa port on 19 ships, including Costa Classica, Azamara Quest, Superstar Aquarius and Seabourn Pride, a two-fold increase in the number of foreign tourists to the city over the same period last year.

Visitors coming to Da Nang by air also saw large increases after extra direct air routes to Da Nang from Asian countries were brought into operation.

Da Nang city expects to receive 28 cruise ships carrying up to 30,000 foreign tourists in the first quarter of 2012./.