Visitors tour Da Nang City by electric car. More than 80 travel agencies, hotels and transport companies have come together in an effort to boost city's tourism. — VNA/VNS Photo Tran Le Lam

DA NANG (Biz Hub)— More than 80 travel agencies, hotels and transport companies have come together in an effort to boost tourism to the central city of Da Nang.

The promotion programme was launched yesterday 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 per cent, while 10 major tours will offer from 20 to 25 per cent 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 Ha Noi, HCM City, South 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 was offering a 40 per cent 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 per cent discount.

Budget Airline, Jetstar, was also offering promotional flights from Ha Noi and HCM City to Da Nang for only VND99,990 per ticket (US$4.7) on Friday.

Restaurants and markets will give a 10 per cent discount in peak times as well as 30 per cent off during the three months of the promotion.

The Cham Sculpture Museum and Nguyen Hien Dinh Theatre of Tuong (Classical Drama) will offer 50 per cent off ticket prices in December.

However, the general secretary of the city's tourism association, Trinh Bang Co, said the programme should 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 Ha Noi, 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. — VNS