The central city of Da Nang should recognise where it is on theworld tourism map and the role the administration can play to boost thetourism industry, said economist Tran Du Lich at a seminar on October25.
The seminar, titled “Developing Da Nang into aninternational centre of tourism and service industries”, drew 300participants from the US , Japan , Germany , Singapore andVietnam .
" Da Nang is at the centre of manytourism destinations and world heritage sites, including Hoi An, the MySon Sanctuary, the Hue Monument Complex and Phong Nha-Ke Bang. The cityshould develop a master plan to facilitate high quality tourism, notjust the number of visitors," Lich said.
"The city hasto answer questions about how to make visitors stay longer and encouragethem to spend more during their vacations," he suggested.
Vice Chairman of the city's People's Committee Huynh Duc Tho said theseminar was a chance for experts and managers to discuss how to turn thecity into an international tourism destination.
"Wewant to become an international destination by using our beautifulbeaches, mountains and pristine nature reserves in the Son Trapeninsula," Tho said, adding “The city has seen big changes after weturned the slums into resorts and hotels that face the ocean. However,we have yet to reach our full potential."
Robert Day,Vice President and Director of Planning and Landscape at WATG, said DaNang is already Vietnam 's third largest city and is still rapidlydeveloping.
"There have been several conferenceshelping to define how, what and where Da Nang and its hinterlandshould grow. But Da Nang 's land area and potential is far too big tohave one blanket approach to tourism over the entire city and itshinterland," Day said at the seminar.
"There is a realneed to develop distinct tourism zones within the city to cater fordifferent market segments. Being a true city, Da Nang also has thephysical space to provide most of the required accommodation and otheramenities anticipated for this central region."
Peter Dyder, General Manager of Indochina Capital, said the city should increase international airlift.
"One factor that is impacting airlift and the arrival of new carriersfrom new destinations is airport landing fees. The cost for an airlineto land in Da Nang is more than double that of comparabledestinations. This is prohibiting airlines flying to Da Nang as theycan not make adequate profit to justify the route," Dyder said.
He also said the visa process needs to be simplified.
"To obtain a visa in a foreign country such as Australia , the US orUK costs about 100 USD per person. A family of four adds up to 400USD on visas alone, enough to make them reconsider coming to Vietnam," he said.
According to a report by the World TourismOrgnisation and World Travel and Tourism Council, Vietnam couldincrease international arrivals by 8-18 percent if it implements thevisa on arrival system.
Dyder suggested the city shouldcreate more international standard tourist attractions and events likethe Iron-Man Triathlon or even the Da Nang Formula One race weekend.
Don Lam, CEO of Vinacapital, said Da Nang should improve service quality and prioritise tourism development activities.
He said tourists have nowhere to go after 10pm in the city, while the marketing budget for tourism is too low.
Amir Ahmad Mohamad, General Manager of Hoang Anh Gia Lai Plaza Hotel DaNang, said the city is yet to develop into an internationalentertainment centre to lure tourists during long vacations.
He said tourism and marketing promotion are still poor, while Da Nangis just known as a destination for domestic visitors, not like HoiAn.
Speaking at the conference, Director of the VietnamInstitute of Economics Tran Dinh Thien pointed out that Da Nangstill lacks the qualities to make it a livable city.
"Sea tourism is our main attraction, but mountains, forests, crafts andadventure tourism are not promoted enough. This is the reason whytourists who visit the city just enjoy seafood on the beach for three orfour days," Thien said.
"It has no city centre in thetourism sense, and there aren't many entertainment centres for people tospend around the beach resorts and hotels."
Accordingto the latest report, the city welcomed 3 million tourists in the firstthree quarters this year, earning 7.8 trillion VND (371 million USD).
The city has 22,000 tourism workers, but 40 percent of them are unskillful.
Da Nang has attracted 60 investment projects in tourism property,including 13 FDI projects worth 4 billion USD in total./.
The seminar, titled “Developing Da Nang into aninternational centre of tourism and service industries”, drew 300participants from the US , Japan , Germany , Singapore andVietnam .
" Da Nang is at the centre of manytourism destinations and world heritage sites, including Hoi An, the MySon Sanctuary, the Hue Monument Complex and Phong Nha-Ke Bang. The cityshould develop a master plan to facilitate high quality tourism, notjust the number of visitors," Lich said.
"The city hasto answer questions about how to make visitors stay longer and encouragethem to spend more during their vacations," he suggested.
Vice Chairman of the city's People's Committee Huynh Duc Tho said theseminar was a chance for experts and managers to discuss how to turn thecity into an international tourism destination.
"Wewant to become an international destination by using our beautifulbeaches, mountains and pristine nature reserves in the Son Trapeninsula," Tho said, adding “The city has seen big changes after weturned the slums into resorts and hotels that face the ocean. However,we have yet to reach our full potential."
Robert Day,Vice President and Director of Planning and Landscape at WATG, said DaNang is already Vietnam 's third largest city and is still rapidlydeveloping.
"There have been several conferenceshelping to define how, what and where Da Nang and its hinterlandshould grow. But Da Nang 's land area and potential is far too big tohave one blanket approach to tourism over the entire city and itshinterland," Day said at the seminar.
"There is a realneed to develop distinct tourism zones within the city to cater fordifferent market segments. Being a true city, Da Nang also has thephysical space to provide most of the required accommodation and otheramenities anticipated for this central region."
Peter Dyder, General Manager of Indochina Capital, said the city should increase international airlift.
"One factor that is impacting airlift and the arrival of new carriersfrom new destinations is airport landing fees. The cost for an airlineto land in Da Nang is more than double that of comparabledestinations. This is prohibiting airlines flying to Da Nang as theycan not make adequate profit to justify the route," Dyder said.
He also said the visa process needs to be simplified.
"To obtain a visa in a foreign country such as Australia , the US orUK costs about 100 USD per person. A family of four adds up to 400USD on visas alone, enough to make them reconsider coming to Vietnam," he said.
According to a report by the World TourismOrgnisation and World Travel and Tourism Council, Vietnam couldincrease international arrivals by 8-18 percent if it implements thevisa on arrival system.
Dyder suggested the city shouldcreate more international standard tourist attractions and events likethe Iron-Man Triathlon or even the Da Nang Formula One race weekend.
Don Lam, CEO of Vinacapital, said Da Nang should improve service quality and prioritise tourism development activities.
He said tourists have nowhere to go after 10pm in the city, while the marketing budget for tourism is too low.
Amir Ahmad Mohamad, General Manager of Hoang Anh Gia Lai Plaza Hotel DaNang, said the city is yet to develop into an internationalentertainment centre to lure tourists during long vacations.
He said tourism and marketing promotion are still poor, while Da Nangis just known as a destination for domestic visitors, not like HoiAn.
Speaking at the conference, Director of the VietnamInstitute of Economics Tran Dinh Thien pointed out that Da Nangstill lacks the qualities to make it a livable city.
"Sea tourism is our main attraction, but mountains, forests, crafts andadventure tourism are not promoted enough. This is the reason whytourists who visit the city just enjoy seafood on the beach for three orfour days," Thien said.
"It has no city centre in thetourism sense, and there aren't many entertainment centres for people tospend around the beach resorts and hotels."
Accordingto the latest report, the city welcomed 3 million tourists in the firstthree quarters this year, earning 7.8 trillion VND (371 million USD).
The city has 22,000 tourism workers, but 40 percent of them are unskillful.
Da Nang has attracted 60 investment projects in tourism property,including 13 FDI projects worth 4 billion USD in total./.
