Sea and islands tourism to stimulate recovery

Đà Nẵng hosted 3.7 million visitors, of which 483,000 came from abroad, between March and November.

Việt Nam’s tourism has been gradually recovering since the country officially opened its doors to all visitors in March, hosting 2.7 million international tourists and 100 million domestic arrivals with total revenue of VNĐ457 trillion (US$18.2 billion).

Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Đoàn Văn Việt spoke at the opening ceremony of the Việt Nam International Travel Mart in the central city last week, stressing that sea and islands tourism would be a focus of the country’s tourism in the post-COVID-19 recovery.

Việt said the travel mart in the central coastal city offered a chance for international and domestic travel agencies, tour operators and service providers to exchange tour links, business-to-business rendezvous and introduction of new products.

“Đà Nẵng, which is a key economic destination in central Việt Nam and one of three markets to nationwide visitors, was seen as a favourite location in boosting potential tourism of Islands and sea – one of four mainstream products of Việt Nam’s tourism,” Việt said.

“The travel mart will offer new chances for domestic and international tourism businesses creating new links in the post-COVID-19, and matching with the country’s tourism strategy development to 2030 with a vision to 2045,” he said.

Cao Thị Ngọc Lan, vice chairwoman of the Việt Nam Tourism Association, said the event had played a key focus in the country’s tourism leap after a two-year damage by the pandemic.

She said a series of forums and promotion programmes had been organised in Hà Nội, HCM City, since the government introduced its industry-wide open-door policy in March.

“The event will play as a stage for domestic tour service suppliers showing the potential of tourism products including coastal and islands destinations, MICE, community-based and ‘green’ tourism to 350 international and domestic buyers,” Lan said.

“It has drawn the participation of 400 businesses from 30 cities and provinces as well as 12 countries and territories. We expected that 30,000 visitors would explore the three-day travel mart with 300 pavilions and tour service introduction,” she said, adding about 2,500 appointments had been fixed at the event.

Director of Đà Nẵng Tourism department, Trương Thị Hồng Hạnh, said there were 21 air routes with 25,000 flights to South Korea, India, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Hong Kong since March.

She said the city had hosted 3.7 million visitors, of which 483,000 were from abroad between March and November.

During the three-day event, there was a forum on coast and islands tourism, a conference on connections between Nghệ An, Thanh Hóa and Đà Nẵng, and a digital transformation in tourism of Đà Nẵng City.

A golf tour and service including three UNESCO-recognised world heritage sites of the Huế Monuments Complex, Hội An Town, Mỹ Sơn Sanctuary and Chàm Island-Hội An world biosphere reserve will be offered for visitors, businesses and buyers at the event.

The central region has seen as an ideal destination for sea and islands tour services, with pristine white sand beaches stretching from Thừa Thiên-Huế to Bình Định provinces.