On August 29, 2024, during a working visit to Indonesia, a delegation from Da Nang City, led by Mrs. Nguyen Thi Anh Thi, Vice Chairwoman of the Da Nang People’s Committee, engaged in direct discussions with Garuda Indonesia and Citilink Indonesia Airlines to facilitate the introduction of direct flights to Da Nang.
Indonesia, with a population of nearly 300 million, stands as the fourth most populous country globally and the largest in Southeast Asia. Regarding Indonesian travel preferences, Asia takes precedence, with the top 10 desired destinations encompassing Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Turkey, Japan, the United States, Australia, South Korea, and China (according to GlobalData’s report).
Mrs. Nguyen Thi Anh Thi, Vice Chairwoman of the Da Nang People’s Committee, underscored Da Nang as an appealing and emerging destination for Indonesian tourists, given its connectivity to world cultural heritage sites and its distinction as Asia’s Leading Festival Destination. The favorable proximity of flight distance and the visa exemption policy for ASEAN countries further augment Da Nang’s allure. Indonesia emerges as a promising market for Da Nang’s tourism industry, owing to its substantial population and the Indonesian people’s ardor for travel. Thus, establishing direct flights from Indonesian cities to Da Nang will bolster tourist exchanges and foster economic development between the two nations in the upcoming period.
During the meeting, the esteemed delegation presented comprehensive information on Da Nang as an attractive destination. They discussed the promising growth of the Indonesian tourist market in Da Nang and graciously shared details about the incentives available to airlines. Further, they received thoughtful proposals from esteemed partners and expressed their steadfast commitment to promoting and establishing the direct flight route from Indonesia to Da Nang. The city also expressed its dedicated efforts to enhance tourism promotion activities, including extending invitations to Famtrip delegations from travel companies, journalists, and KOLs to immerse themselves in the experience of Da Nang.
Notably, representatives from Garuda Indonesia and Citilink Indonesia conveyed their keen interest in expanding their flight networks to captivating new destinations in Southeast Asia, with Da Nang, Vietnam, of particular interest.
Citilink Indonesia and PT. UOS Travel has announced its intentions to introduce a charter flight route from Jakarta, Indonesia, to Da Nang, Vietnam, with operations scheduled to commence in December 2024. Garuda Indonesia, the national airline of Indonesia, has operated since 1949. The airline presently operates a fleet of over 200 aircraft and conducts more than 600 flights daily, connecting to over 90 destinations worldwide. Garuda Indonesia’s international routes extend across Asia (including Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Tokyo, Seoul, and Hong Kong), Europe (Amsterdam), Australia (Sydney, Melbourne, Perth), and the Middle East (Dubai).
Citilink Indonesia, founded in 2001, is a budget airline with a strong focus on safety. Presently, the airline manages a fleet of 59 aircraft and serves over 80 routes, primarily catering to domestic markets within Indonesia. In addition to this, Citilink Indonesia also offers international flights to Cambodia, Timor-Leste, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, and Saudi Arabia..
DA NANG DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM
