Da Nang: Need to research and develop unique, green tourist boats

To realize the potential for developing waterway tourism, Da Nang city needs to have ship models suitable for each inland waterway route as well as develop tourist ships with accommodation in a unique, green, and environmentally friendly direction to ensure the value of landscape, culture and the experience of tourists.

Cu De River has potential for developing inland waterway tourism and accommodation on the water, but is facing difficulties in finding suitable tourist boat models. Photo: Hoang Hiep

Suitable cruise ship models to be available soon

On the Han River, there are dozens of tourist boats operating every day, serving thousands of visitors. However, many boats still use old diesel engines, emitting black smoke, making loud noises… which invisibly annoy or reduce the excitement for tourists when enjoying the beautiful river flowing through the city.

This reality requires a model and type of cruise ship that is both typical of Da Nang tourism and local identity, and does not cause noise or smoke to ensure the value of natural landscapes, urban aesthetics and the experience of tourists. In particular, it is necessary to encourage businesses operating cruise ships to invest or convert to using electric motors or renewable energy, hybrid to reduce noise and toxic emissions.

On the Cu De River, a beautiful river, attracts many people and tourists to enjoy and eco-tourism. Currently, there are many homestays and eco-tourism spots on both sides of the Cu De River, especially in the Hoa Bac and Truong Dinh areas of Hai Van Ward. However, the services and types of river tourism on the Cu De River are still poor.

For a long time, the locality and the city have surveyed and oriented the development of inland waterway tourism on the Cu De River, but there are still limitations on tourist boats exploiting this unique waterway tourism route. Beautiful river sections with potential for exploiting waterway tourism are difficult to have suitable boats to operate because they are prone to running aground, and visitors have to wade into the water to push the boat.

Inland waterway tourism is developing strongly on the Han River. Photo: Hoang Hiep

Chairman of Hai Van Ward People's Committee Nguyen Thuc Dung said that the ward is looking for a type of tourist boat with a flat bottom or a suitable structure to exploit tourism on Cu De River during the dry season. Along with that, after Son Cha Con Island is handed over to Da Nang City for management, in the future, a type of tourist boat with accommodation on the water surface will be developed, so the ward is also considering the model and type of suitable boat to propose for development.

Dr. Tran Van Luan, Head of the Department of Marine Engineering, Faculty of Transport Engineering, University of Technology (University of Danang) acknowledged that the number of international tourists and luxury tourists coming to Danang is increasing, so the demand for tourist accommodation on the water is very large and this field has strong development potential.

In the city, there are many favorable locations for developing water-based tourism accommodation in Cu De River, Da Nang Bay, Co Co River, Thu Bon River, etc. These locations have calm water surfaces, so they are suitable for developing 2-hull and 3-hull tourist boats to bring comfort to tourists and easily arrange facilities for water-based tourism accommodation. At the same time, it is suitable for creating large floor areas to facilitate star rating for tourist boats like hotels, etc.

To meet that need, the department's research team has coordinated to create a number of structures for 2-3 hull ships for accommodation on the water, connecting the structures in a smart assembly direction; orienting the use of lightweight materials, integrated techniques and technologies, renewable energy (wind, solar)... At the same time, integrating artificial intelligence technology in controlling and operating the ship; water and waste treatment... This created ship model will meet the city's requirements for developing the type of tourist ships that stay on the water.

Developing tourism accommodation on water

According to the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in the Project on Developing Inland Waterway Tourism to 2030, with a vision to 2045, the city aims for waterway tourists to account for about 15-20% of the total number of overnight guests, and by 2045, the figure will increase to 20-25%. With this goal, the city has determined to form a system of standard ports and wharves; add high-speed boats, cruise ships, and accommodation ships; and develop services associated with rivers.

Thu Bon River has potential for developing water-based tourism. Photo: Hoang Hiep

In addition to the main routes such as Han River - Tran Thi Ly Bridge, Han River - Da Nang Bay, Cu De River - Truong Dinh..., the city will expand more waterway transport routes to the islands, develop service systems at the wharf, add high-class and super luxury vehicles...

Mr. Hoang Ngoc Thanh, Deputy Head of the Travel Management Department, Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said that after the merger, the unit has surveyed more rivers and inland waterways in the south of the city (former Quang Nam province) to have a plan to develop waterway tourism in stages.

In the coming time, the city needs scientists, research units, and applications of renewable energy for cruise ships, transportation, water taxis, etc. At the same time, there are suitable ship designs for each river route, including ships entering small channels. In the period 2030 - 2035, the need to develop large types of luxury inland waterway tourism, mainly developing cruise ships with accommodation, so it is necessary to have research on this type of ship with different scales to have investment directions, contributing to promoting tourism development in Da Nang city.

Da Nang Newspaper, Radio and Television - baodanang.vn

Source: https://bvhttdl.gov.vn/da-nang-can-nghien-cuu-phat-trien-tau-thuy-du-lich-dac-trung-xanh-20251104111708721.htm