Indian tourists flock to Da Nang

10/12/2024 | 14:44

TPO – Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoai An – Deputy Director of the Da Nang Department of Tourism – said that in the first 9 months of this year, the city welcomed more than 151,000 Indian visitors, accounting for 43% of the total number of Indian visitors to Vietnam, an increase of 125% over the same period in 2023.

This market is in the top 5 groups of international visitors to Da Nang, after Korea, Taiwan - China, Thailand, China. "In the absence of direct flights, the number of Indian visitors to the city is still very large, showing that the recognition of Da Nang as a destination in the travel itinerary in Vietnam has improved significantly," said Ms. Hoai An. Photo: Thanh Hien.

One of the favorite destinations for Indian tourists in Da Nang is Han Market because of its wide range of fashion, souvenirs, and food items. Mr. Phan Hoi (clothing stall) shared that in the past month, there have been more Indian visitors, who really like to buy ready-made clothes.

Mr. 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 is also a tourist attraction that attracts the Indian tourist market. A representative of the tourist area said that Indian tourists account for about 10%, after South Korea and Taiwan - China.

Travel agencies say that Indian tourists often come in large numbers from the end of the year to the beginning of the following year. This is the ideal time for groups to organize wedding parties, seminars, etc. Although there are no direct flights, Da Nang is always a destination that is hard to ignore when coming to Vietnam.

India is a source of extremely demanding guests when it comes to cuisine.

Mr. Luong Van Trang - Vietnam Travel Mart Company - shared that in the past, travel agencies were very worried about the cuisine for Indian tourists because their diet was very complicated, each community ate according to their own preferences and beliefs, some groups even brought chefs to serve. Food and drink was one of the factors that decided their destination. Since Da Nang met this criterion, Indian tourists have increasingly favored and felt more secure when traveling.

According to the Da Nang Department of Tourism, this is a market that has recorded a strong rebound after the COVID-19 pandemic. Typically, in 2023, the total number of Indian visitors increased nearly 9 times compared to 2019 - the peak period of Da Nang tourism. Thanks to this source of visitors, the city is less dependent on the two traditional markets of China and Korea.

To attract visitors from this market, the city has implemented many promotional activities and exhibitions at Indian tourism fairs; welcomed Famtrip delegations specializing in conferences, seminars (MICE), and weddings from major cities such as Ahmedabad, Mumbai, etc. Especially, it has implemented incentive programs for MICE and wedding tourism.

“At the end of October, the Ahmedabad – Da Nang route will be put into operation, with a frequency of 2 flights/week, connecting Da Nang and India more closely, making it convenient for tourists to travel. The city also hopes that this route will attract more Indian tourists,” the Deputy Director of the Da Nang Department of Tourism shared, adding that some tourism businesses in the area also offer many incentives for the first guests on this flight.

Mr. Subhash Chandar - General Director of Asia Destination Management Joint Stock Company - said that India has a large and growing foreign tourism market. In 2024, Indians are expected to spend about 42 billion USD abroad. "Vietnam's attractiveness is increasing for Indian tourists, this country is currently in the top 5 countries where Indians travel the most, after Dubai, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia", he said. As for Da Nang, in addition to the above factors, the city has many plus points such as beautiful landscapes, clean environment, good infrastructure, full amenities. In particular, billionaire couples love to hold lavish weddings here because it meets their strict needs.

Thanh Hien