The first South Korean tourists visit Đà Nẵng for two years after COVID-19. South Korea and India are two key markets for Đà Nẵng tourism in the coming years. VNS Photo Lê Lâm

ĐÀ NẴNG — The central city of Đà Nẵng has boosted tourism promotion activities in building links with South Korea and India – two growth markets in Asia – and Malaysia with an ambition of fully recovering its hospitality industry in 2023-24.

The coastal tourism hub has witnessed the return of South Korean visitors with nine airlines resuming their services since March, bringing 53,660 passengers on 76 flights from Incheon, Busan, Daegu and Muan per week.

Representatives of travel agencies and businesses from Đà Nẵng and South Korea had a business-to-business meeting in Seoul in early August, seeking prosperous growth of services between Đà Nẵng and South Korea in the coming years.

A farmtrip from Indian travel agencies on a survey of Đà Nẵng destinations and services. The beach city offers favourite locations for MICE and wedding events from the Indian market. — Photo courtesy of Đà Nẵng Tourism Promotion Centre

Hana Tour, a South Korean travel agency plans to host an amateur Hana Tour golf tournament as a new service to lure Korean tourists to relax and play sports during vacations on the pristine beaches and ocean front golf courses in the city.

Kim Sug Hun from Hana Tour said Đà Nẵng is seen as the favourite destination of Korean tourists, with its ocean air environment and beautiful golf courses along beaches.

He said the central city was seen as one of the most important markets for South Korea tourism before COVID-19.

Among 4.3 million Korean visiting Việt Nam before COVID-19, 1.8 million (42 per cent) used tour services to Đà Nẵng, a report from the city’s tourism promotion centre showed.

Kim also said golf tours will be a new service in tour links with five-star hotels and resorts in Đà Nẵng, Hội An and Huế in September.

Nguyễn Xuân Bình, vice director of the city’s tourism department, said a series of South Korean airlines including Asiana Airlines, Jeju Air, Jin Air, Air Busan, Air Seoul and Tway Air, had also prepared for re-operating air services from Busan, Seoul, Deagu, and Cheong Ju to Đà Nẵng.

Meanwhile, beach front resorts in Đà Nẵng will offer the best services available for hosting MICE and wedding events for the Indian market post COVID-19.

A wedding photo session by a beach in Đà Nẵng. The beach city expects to host wedding events for visitors from India. — VNS Photo Công Thành

Many Indian travel companies including One Above, In Time, Tourister Vinnaayak Holidays, Kesari Travels, Jain&Jain, While Board and Plutus Voyage, have paid their attention to favoured locations on the beach in Đà Nẵng.

Basheer Adul Rahim, director of One Above from India, said Đà Nẵng’s tourism has been promoted strongly in the Indian market, and his company would be excited to offer services and tour services to Đà Nẵng.

He expects that the number of Indian tourists to Đà Nẵng will reach 3 million in the next two years, with new direct air routes between Đà Nẵng and New Delhi launching later this year.

Travel agencies from Đà Nẵng began offering service to Malaysian and Singaporean markets by hosting promotion programmes between July and August.

Five-star Furama resort Đà Nẵng – a favourite destination for hosting MICE and weddings for Indian tourists – was awarded with World luxury Culinary beach resort of the year 2022 by the UK’s EMG Publishing’s Global Annual 100 Awards 2022 on August 6.

Low-cost carrier Vietjet Air has resumed seven new international routes from Đà Nẵng to Singapore, South Korea and India.

Its service helped connect Đà Nẵng to Busan and the five largest cities in India – New Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, and Bangalore – together with Singapore.

A golfer completes a swing in a practice at the Montgomerie Links golf course in Đà Nẵng. The city plans to attract Korean tourists with golf events. —VNS Photo Công Thành

Malaysia Airlines, Hong Kong Express Airways, Cambodia Angkor Air, Bangkok Airways, and Vietnam Airlines, also plan to reschedule their services from Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Hong Kong (China), Siem Reap (Cambodia), Narita (Japan) and Bangkok (Thailand) in 2022.

The city’s tourism authority said the 1.3 million visiting Đà Nẵng in the first half this year was equal to a 33.6 per cent increase on the same period last year. VNS