Da Nang eyes becoming high-quality tourism, service centre by 2030

Athletes competing in standup paddle boarding (SUP) with a distance of 2,000m on Man Thai beach of Da Nang in April 2022 (Photo: VNA)

Under the project on orientations for local tourism development by 2030, with a vision to 2045, Da Nang aims to become Asia's leading tourist destination, and a centre for high-end eco-tourism and international-standard Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism by 2045.

To that end, the city will focus on major development orientations on tourism development space, infrastructure, development of tourism products, human resources, travel agents, investment in the sector, tourism promotion, digital transformation, and management of risks, disasters and diseases.

It will strengthen State management over tourism activities, form a tourism culture and better mechanisms and policies to develop the non-smoke industry, while developing and managing infrastructure to serve tourism.

Attention will also be paid to intensifying cooperation in tourism development and the post-COVID-19 recovery.

Covering 1,255sq.km, the city is cited as an entrance to four UNESCO-recognised World Heritage sites including the former royal capital city of Hue, Hoi An ancient city and My Son Sanctuary in Quang Nam province, and Phong Nha-Ke Bang Park in Quang Binh province.

Da Nang has a total of 90 kilometres of coastline and dozens of beaches, including stunning My Khe. Meanwhile, the city’s Ngu Hanh Son (Marble Mountain) district is renowned as a centre for stone art, with Non Nuoc craft village stands at the foot of the Marble Mountain.

Experts said those natural advantages, combined with Da Nang’s modern infrastructure, good services, safety and hospitality, create unique traits for the central coastal city.

Da Nang has emerged as a destination of leisure, media and spiritual tourism, as well as entertainment and shopping activities, and a venue of conferences.

The city was named in the top 10 holiday places in Asia by the prestigious online tourism magazine Smart Travel Asia and top 10 fresh destinations by the global online accommodation reservation provider Agoda in 2013.

In addition, the Da Nang International Airport was ranked third among the best airports in the world in 2014, according to a survey by Dragon Air.

According to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, Da Nang is the best place to live in Vietnam with many world records. The cable line that takes visitors to the peak of Ba Na Hills at an altitude of 1,487 metres in just 17 minutes and is able to carry 3,000 passengers per hour won four Guinness Records in 2013. Besides, Sun Wheel, which is 115 metres in height and situated in Asian Park, Hai Chau district, was listed among the 10 tallest wheels in the world.

On the list of the world’s top 10 destinations for 2018 compiled by the online marketplace and hospitality service Airbnb, Da Nang was ranked fifth in booking surges of up to 255 percent.

In 2018, the city was ranked the second most popular destination for solo or couple travellers by the Republic of Korea’s Ticket Monster Inc. The website said people who plan to travel abroad with family members often choose Da Nang.

Da Nang has been one of the top localities of Vietnam in economic scale and development level, he said, noting that in the 2016-2019 period, the city’s gross regional domestic product (GRDP) growth reached 7.79 percent per year. In the first six months of 2022, the figure is estimated at 7.23 percent.

Da Nang targets 3.32 million domestic tourists and 180,000 foreign visitors this year under one scenario and two million and 100,000 under the other.

Da Nang received 1.17 million domestic tourists last year, down 55.8 percent from 2019./.