More than 80 travel agencies, hotels and transport companies have come
together in an effort to boost tourism to the central coastal city of
Da Nang.
The promotion programme was launched on
July 31 with the aim to attract 3 million domestic visitors this year to
the region, especially during the low season, between September and
December.
“As many as 52 hotels in the city have
committed to discount bookings from 10 to 50 percent, while 10 major
tours will offer from 20 to 25 percent off as the usual price,” said Ngo
Thi Hoang Anh, deputy head of the Accommodation Service for the
Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
“We want
to attract tourists from Hanoi , Ho Chi Minh City , the Republic
of Korea , China and Thailand during the rainy season and
make inroads with Meeting, Incentives, Conferencing and Exhibition
(MICE) tourism,” she said.
She said Green Plaza
in the city would offering a 40 percent discount during the promotion,
while five-star resorts Furama (Sandy Beach), Ba Na mountain resort and
Debay hotels were also offering a 20 or 30 percent discount.
Budget Airline, Jetstar, was also offering promotional flights from
Hanoi and HCM City to Da Nang for only 99,990 VND per
ticket (4.7 USD) on Friday.
Restaurants and markets
will give a 10 percent discount in peak times as well as 30 percent off
during the three months of the promotion.
The Cham
Sculpture Museum and Nguyen Hien Dinh Theatre of Tuong (Classical
Drama) will offer 50 percent off ticket prices in December.
However, the general secretary of the city’s tourism association,
Trinh Bang Co, said the programme should be a year round effort.
“We should do the promotion programme every quarter and during big
festivals to attract more tourists. Travel agencies and hotels need to
cooperate closely to host visitors with the best service,” Co said.
“The city’s major tourists come from Hanoi , HCM City and
northern provinces , and the city has to introduce its promotion
programme nationwide,” he said.
Nguyen Van Xuan from
Sai Gon Tourane hotel said that booking discounts should not be a
crucial factor in the promotion, rather the quality of service should be
important.
“Tourists do not come to sleep and eat
in the city. They want to join attractive and exciting tour programmes
with the best quality and hospitality,” Xuan speculated.
Deputy director of the city’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Department
Tran Chi Cuong said the city will launch a roadshow programme to promote
tourism in the Mekong Delta; Bangkok , Thailand ; Russia and
China from this month.
The city has hosted 1.5 million tourists in the first six months of this year.-VNA