Thottathil Jasim, an Indian man, said he was fascinated by the scenery of the city of Hue. It is a pity that he did not understand the local architectural and cultural value before.
“When I come back to India, I will definitely introduce Hue, Hoi An and Da Nang to my friends and clients. Everything here is so beautiful. The service is professional,” he said.
From March 14 to 17, a farm tour involving more than 20 Indian tourism companies, tourism promotion agencies and news organizations came to Da Nang to examine tourism services in the city, Hoi An and Hue. Hue is a new destination for many travelers.
Analysts say India, with a population of 1.3 billion, is a potential tourism market. A United Nations report says India will replace China as the world’s most populous country with a population of 1.3 billion in 2023.
In 2022, Vietnam has witnessed an astonishing increase in the number of tourists from India. Since July 2022, monthly Indian tourist arrivals have surpassed the average monthly tourist arrivals in 2019 or the year before the pandemic.
According to Google Destination Insights, India is one of the top 10 countries most searched for travel to Vietnam.
Tour companies in Vietnam have been pushing to introduce Vietnamese destinations to Indian tourists in recent years.
Previously, Indian tourists did not know much about central Vietnam. They only know Da Nang. At the same time, Hue, Hoi An and neighboring areas have excellent transportation conditions, and their attractiveness has not diminished in the slightest.
“Indian partners are very picky when it comes to choosing products, services and partners. They go straight to the destination and do their research, carefully comparing destinations and costs before making a decision,” said Nguyen Thi Viet Anh of PYS Travel.
Food is also an issue of interest to Indian tourists when considering Vietnam as a destination. Many parts of Vietnam still don’t have restaurants serving Indian food.
In mid-February, the 36-square-meter Da Nang FantastiCity booth of the Ministry of Tourism Da Nang made its debut at a major travel fair in India.
Recently, an Indian family tour group flew into Da Nang for a 4 days 3 nights city tour. The travelers visited many famous places, including Ngu Hanh Son, Ba Na Hills, Hoi An Ancient Town and Hue, and checked out hotels and restaurants.
“I was very impressed with the Golden Bridge. I think it’s a great destination to attract Indian tourists,” said Salman Moideen of Flyland Travel & Tour in Mumbai, adding that he decided to promote Da Nang, especially Tourism in Ba Na Hills.
Nguyen Van Phuc, director of the Tse Thien Hue Tourism Bureau, said that the most attractive places for Indians include heritage sites recognized as world cultural heritage by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), such as the Hue Monuments, Hue The Royal Music and Poetry Museum in the Royal Building; Hue Festival, Ao Dai Festival, Hue Food and other tourism promotion activities to attract foreign tourists.
There were not many Indian tourists visiting Hue in the past. There is only a small group of travelers, mostly families or businessmen who come in conjunction with tourism. But nowadays, Hue tourism is very promising. Phuc said the tourism department is helping travel companies promote destinations and helping train restaurant and hotel staff to cater to the specific needs of Indian tourists.
Authorities in Hue are considering implementing proposals from Indian tourists, such as launching direct flights from Delhi and Mumbai to Hue and developing restaurants serving Indian cuisine in the province. Hue will step up promotion of the province’s tourism at Indian trade fairs and train skilled personnel to receive Indian tourists.
According to Phuc, traffic between Da Nang, Hue, Hoi An and other central provinces is currently in good condition, and local authorities are considering developing “one-site three-site” tourism (Da Nang-Hue-Hoi An) or “one-site Five places” place (Da Nang – Hue – Hoi An – Quang Binh – Quang Tri).
Yuxia
