Danang focuses on Japanese visitors

DANANG Danang and Japanese software company, Digital Ship, have teamed up to build a Japanese-English website called “Happy Danang” to encourage Japanese expatriates living in Vietnam to explore the central region.

Local media quoted Digital Ship manager saying the website would provide tourism information for the Japanese community living in Hoi An and Danang, but it will also help Japanese tourists who need information in their own language.

To tap this market, Danang and Japan will also start construction of the first Vietnam-Japan Culture Exchange Park in Ngu Hanh Son district, later this month, and they will reserve a 134-ha industrial park for medium and small-size businesses from Japan. 

The number of Japanese tourists visiting Danang has doubled to 66,000 last year, according to the municipal Culture, Sports and Tourism Department.

The city is home to 160 Japanese investors and 37 company representatives, with a total investment of USD500 million, the report said.

Japanese investment projects create 40,000 jobs for the city and neighbouring provinces.

Vietnam Airlines flies direct flight connecting Tokyo Narita Airport and Danang with seven flights weekly.

Danang tourism authorities project the city will attract 8.85 million visitors by 2020, including 2.45 million foreigners. Tourism earning will reach USD1.41 billion.

This year, the city targets 5.1 million visitors, including 1.32 million from abroad, to generate USD616 million in revenue.

Last year, the city logged 4.6 million tourist arrivals, including over 1.2 million international tourists, a 22.4% year-on-year increase. The city’s tourism revenue reached USD558.8 million.

Danang is Vietnam’s third largest city located on the eastern sea coast, midway between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.