Mr. Bok SangHun (34 years old, a South Korean tourist) is a regular visitor to Da Nang City on direct flights. He shared that he returns to Da Nang not only to explore the destinations and beautiful scenery but also to have new experiences with friends during the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, major holidays, and especially to try out new entertainment services.
Korean tourists shopping at a Korean market.
NGUYEN TU
Mr. Cao Tri Dung, Chairman of the Da Nang City Tourism Association and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Vietnam TravelMart Joint Stock Company, compared the city's population of over 50 million people to nearly 2 million South Korean tourists visiting Da Nang. This means that out of every 100 South Koreans, 4 have visited Da Nang. Eight years ago, along with Japanese and Chinese tourists, South Koreans knew Da Nang primarily for golf tourism. Now, however, they favor many other experiences. "South Korean tourists have a very high demand for travel, a good standard of living, and strong spending power, so they frequently choose new destinations. After Bali and Phuket, Da Nang is a top choice because it offers many new things, such as seven golf courses in the surrounding provinces and cities, numerous heritage sites, beautiful scenery, good services, reasonable costs, high quality, and generally friendly people," Mr. Cao Tri Dung said.
Creating a sustainable ecosystem
Furthermore, according to the Chairman of the Da Nang City Tourism Association, another reason is Da Nang's strategic shift in investment and tourism promotion towards South Korea. New, direct flight routes are continuously opening to many destinations in South Korea; localities in South Korea are also establishing sister city relationships, cooperating, attracting investment, and exchanging cultural experiences with Da Nang, gradually forming an ecosystem.
iHQ (South Korea) television channel makes a film about marine sports tourism in Da Nang.
Mr. Nguyen Duc Quynh, Vice President of the Da Nang Tourism Association, President of the Da Nang Hotel Association, and General Director of Furama Resort Da Nang, also assessed Da Nang City as a very special case in Vietnam in particular and the region in general regarding Korean tourists. While other new destinations only exploit the Korean tourist market for 3-4 years, Da Nang City has maintained this market from 2016 to the present, surpassing the Chinese market to account for the highest percentage in the tourist structure.
The composition of Korean tourists visiting Da Nang is diverse. From corporate groups to individual travelers, young people, celebrities, and film crews, Da Nang is a popular destination, stimulating demand and encouraging Korean tourists to return. Notably, multi-generational family groups are increasingly choosing Da Nang, making it a sustainable destination for all generations.
"Besides that, Korean businesses have also started investing in Da Nang City, and Korean human resources are seeking jobs and settling in Da Nang. Currently, many hotels have Korean general managers, business directors, and chefs. For example, Furama Resort Da Nang recently signed a cooperation agreement with a Korean resort complex, the location of the filming location for "Autumn in My Heart," and is recruiting staff… These things create an ecosystem that not only benefits tourism but also fosters a sustainable connection between the Korean community and Da Nang City," said Mr. Nguyen Duc Quynh.
However, Da Nang City is not only home to Korean tourists. After the Covid-19 pandemic, Da Nang City has undertaken strong promotional activities, such as restarting connections with markets in the Middle East, Europe, North America, and Australia…
Mr. Nguyen Duc Quynh shared that the Indian market has yielded good results, with an Indian airline planning to open a route to Da Nang in the third quarter of 2023, and Indian tourists are gradually becoming familiar with Da Nang.
"Along with expanding into new international markets and strengthening connections to exploit traditional markets, Da Nang City needs to continue developing new tourism products. Besides high-quality resorts and entertainment venues, it is necessary to upgrade scenic spots and beautiful landscapes to live up to the expectations of international tourists regarding a unique destination," said Mr. Nguyen Duc Quynh.
| According to data from the Da Nang City Tourism Association, in 2019 (before the Covid-19 pandemic), Da Nang City welcomed 1.8 million South Korean tourists, accounting for approximately 50% of international visitors to Da Nang. Da Nang was also the most popular destination for South Koreans traveling abroad during the peak season of 2019. In the first six months of 2013, 5.7 million South Korean tourists visited Vietnam, with Da Nang alone receiving about 600,000, accounting for 10% of the national total. Between 2015 and 2019, South Korea consistently led the international tourist market to Da Nang. |
Nguyen Tu (According to Thanh Nien newspaper)
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