Indian tourists flock to Da Nang.

12/10/2024 | 14:44

TPO – Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoai An, Deputy Director of the Da Nang Department of Tourism , said that in the first nine months of this year, the city welcomed more than 151,000 Indian tourists, accounting for 43% of the total number of Indian tourists to Vietnam, a 125% increase compared to the same period in 2023.

This market is among the top 5 international tourist groups visiting Da Nang , after South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and China. “Even without direct flights, the large number of Indian tourists still coming to the city shows that Da Nang's recognition as a destination in Vietnam has significantly improved,” said Ms. Hoai An. Photo: Thanh Hien.

One of the destinations favored by Indian tourists in Da Nang is Han Market, due to its wide variety of fashion items, souvenirs, and food. Mr. Phan Hoi (clothing stall owner) shared that in the past month, the number of Indian tourists has increased significantly, and they particularly enjoy buying ready-made clothing.

Maruthi, an Indian tourist, said he was very impressed with Da Nang because the city is clean, the people are friendly, and there are many places for entertainment and shopping.

Ba Na Hills is also a popular tourist destination for the Indian market. According to a representative of the tourist area, Indian tourists account for about 10%, after South Korea and Taiwan – China.

According to travel agencies, Indian tourists tend to visit in large numbers during the last months of the year until the beginning of the following year. This is the ideal time for groups to organize weddings, conferences, etc. Although there are no direct flights, Da Nang is always a destination that is hard to miss when visiting Vietnam.

India is a source of extremely discerning food lovers.

Mr. Luong Van Trang from Vietnam Travel Mart shared that previously, travel agencies were very concerned about the food for Indian tourists because their eating habits are very complex, with each community having its own preferences and beliefs. Some groups even bring their own chefs to serve them. Food is one of the deciding factors in their choice of destination. Since Da Nang has met this criterion, Indian tourists have increasingly preferred and felt more secure when visiting.

According to the Da Nang Department of Tourism, this market has seen a strong surge after the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, in 2023, the total number of Indian tourists increased nearly ninefold compared to 2019 – the peak period for Da Nang tourism. Thanks to this influx of tourists, the city has become less dependent on its two traditional markets, China and South Korea.

To attract tourists from this market, the city has implemented various promotional activities, including exhibitions at Indian tourism fairs; welcoming Famtrip groups specializing in conferences, seminars (MICE), and weddings from major cities such as Ahmedabad and Mumbai… In particular, it has implemented special offers for MICE and wedding tourism.

“At the end of October, the Ahmedabad – Da Nang route will be launched, with a frequency of 2 flights per week, connecting Da Nang and India more closely and conveniently for tourists. The city also hopes that this route will attract even more Indian tourists,” the Deputy Director of the Da Nang Department of Tourism shared, adding that some tourism businesses in the area are also offering many incentives for the first passengers on this flight.

Mr. Subhash Chandar – General Director of Asia Destination Management JSC – said that India has a large and growing outbound tourism market. In 2024, Indian outbound spending is expected to reach approximately US$42 billion. “Vietnam’s attractiveness to Indian tourists is increasing; currently, the country is among the top 5 most visited destinations by Indians, after Dubai, Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia,” he said. Regarding Da Nang specifically, in addition to the above factors, the city has many advantages such as beautiful scenery, a clean environment, good infrastructure, and complete amenities. In particular, billionaire couples are very fond of holding lavish weddings here because it meets their demanding needs.

Thanh Hien