Central Da Nang City and Can Tho City in the Mekong Delta have agreed to promote co-operation among 100 travel agencies in the two regions.— Photo traveldanang

DA NANG (VNS)— Central Da Nang City and Can Tho City in the Mekong Delta have agreed to promote co-operation among 100 travel agencies in the two regions.

In response to the news, businesses claimed direct flights between the two cities would play a key role in accelerating tourism. Last year, only 35,000 tourists travelled between Da Nang City and Can Tho due to a shortage of direct flights. The 1,100km road between the two locations can take up to 25 hours by bus.

"The air route [if available] cuts travelling time for tourists. It also creates favourable advantages for travel agencies promoting service and investment,"said Nguyen Xuan Binh, director of Da Nang's Tourism Promotion Centre.

He said Da Nang, which is home to a number of heritage sites in the central region, could enable greater co-ordination of tourism services between Can Tho and other localities, including Phong Nha-Ke Bang in Quang Binh Province, Hue City and Hoi An; and My Son in Quang Nam Province.

The deputy director of the Culture, Sport and Tourism Department in Can Tho City, Le Minh Son, said, "Can Tho has co-operated with Ha Noi, HCM City and Lam Dong Province. We hope that Da Nang will be a potential destination."

The deputy manager of Da Nang-based Vitours, Nguyen Thi Kim Lien, said travel agencies in Da Nang were keen to offer diversified tourism products linking with tour services in the Mekong Delta region via Can Tho.

Vietnam Airlines'central office representative Le Xuan Son said the national flag carrier planned to launch up to five weekly flights between Da Nang and Can Tho, predicting the flights would carry up to 80 per cent of tourists.

According to a survey, around 200,000 foreign tourists would prefer air travel between the two cities. — VNS