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On June 5, 2024, the Da Nang City Department of Tourism organized a conference on the development of wedding tourism in Da Nang City at the Hyatt Regency Danang Resort & Spa.
At the Da Nang Wedding Tourism Development Conference (hereinafter referred to as the Conference), the Da Nang Department of Tourism announced the Da Nang Wedding Tourism Development Plan and the Pilot Program to attract wedding tourists to Da Nang in the 2024-2025 period with the message "Da Nang - Where happiness begins".
The Da Nang City Department of Tourism organized a conference on the development of wedding tourism in Da Nang City.
A business networking program connecting local suppliers with 20 international wedding event organizers was also held within the framework of the Conference.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoai An, Deputy Director of the Da Nang City Department of Tourism, said that Da Nang city is aiming to develop a professional wedding destination, providing attentive service and offering tourism programs for the couple's relatives and friends, combining experiences at famous tourist attractions in Da Nang.
Explaining the promotional message "Da Nang – Where Happiness Begins," Ms. Hoai An said that the simple message encapsulates the beauty of Da Nang, a peaceful and livable city, as well as the affection of locals and tourists for this destination as a place to meet, date, and record beautiful stories, not only for couples but also for family and friends attending wedding events in Da Nang.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoai An, Deputy Director of the Da Nang City Department of Tourism, spoke at the event.
The conference also featured speaker Lisa Viegas, Director of the Destination Wedding Planner Congress (DWP Congress), who shared insights into the global wedding tourism industry, a sector that many destinations are targeting in their destination development strategies.
Sharing her insights on wedding trends in 2024, Lisa Viegas noted that couples are increasingly embracing technology in their weddings, such as AI in design, QR codes, and photography from drones. Events are becoming more personalized to showcase the couple's originality, personality, and uniqueness. Furthermore, growing awareness of sustainability is leading couples towards eco-friendly weddings or "micro weddings," small, intimate celebrations.
According to the DPW Congress, the wedding tourism market is currently estimated to be worth US$90 billion. Since 2022, the Asia-Pacific region has contributed significantly to the global wedding market, accounting for 40.52%, with an annual growth rate of 16.48%. Along with Indonesia, Thailand, Maldives, and India, Vietnam has emerged as an attractive wedding destination in the region.
A business networking program connecting local suppliers with 20 international wedding event organizers was also held within the framework of the Conference.
Leaders of the Da Nang City Department of Tourism also discussed with Ms. Lisa Viegas the intention to host the DWP Congress (World Wedding Organizers Conference) in the coming years as part of the wedding destination development plan.
The DWP Congress is the largest global networking forum for wedding organizers, destinations, hotels, and industry suppliers. Organized by QnA International in collaboration with national tourism organizations since 2014, the event has been held in numerous tourist cities including Qatar, Indonesia, Greece, Mauritius, Florence, Thailand, Mexico, and Dubai. Common to these host destinations are potential wedding tourism locations, leveraging the DWP Congress as a central event to promote their wedding destinations and connect with global wedding organizers.
Pilot program to attract wedding tourists to Da Nang.
As one of the main components of the Da Nang Wedding Tourism Development Plan 2024-2025, the pilot program to attract wedding tourists will be applied for two years (2024-2025) to tourist weddings with 50 or more guests held at hotels and resorts in Da Nang.
The pilot program to attract wedding tourists is considered one of the stimulus activities aimed at attracting tourists to Da Nang city in the 2024-2025 period, specifically:
- Wedding events (weddings, wedding anniversaries, etc.) held in Da Nang must meet the specified conditions regarding the scale of the event and the number of room nights, including:
Level 1: 50-100 guests per event, minimum stay: 25 nights per room.
Level 2: 100-200 guests per event, minimum stay: 50 nights per room.
Level 3: Over 200 guests per event, minimum stay: 100 room nights.
+ Requirements: Stay at one of the hotels or resorts in Da Nang. Agree to cooperate with media coverage and share selected images of the city's welcoming activities.
The pilot program to attract wedding tourists is considered one of the stimulus activities aimed at attracting tourists to Da Nang city in the period 2024-2025.
Prior to launching the pilot program, Da Nang had implemented a program to welcome couples to hold tourist weddings in Da Nang and received attention from many couples as well as wedding event organizers, especially couples from the Indian wedding market.
The first program celebrating the Indian wedding of bride Tuisha and groom Gaurav was held in January 2023.
According to survey data from hotels and event companies in Da Nang city in 2023, there were approximately 100 wedding events with a total of 24,000 wedding tourists attending and revenue reaching 200-300 million VND per event.
In the first five months of 2024, Da Nang also hosted four weddings of Indian couples with over 1200 guests, and advised more than 26 couples interested in Da Nang as a destination. Although the numbers are still modest, wedding tourism is gradually making a significant contribution to the city's tourism industry structure.
The first Indian wedding in shades of pink at Danang Marriott Resort & Spa.
Famtrip program for international wedding planners
Networking activities between international wedding service providers and event organizers were also organized within the framework of the Conference. Not only was this an opportunity for businesses to showcase their products and services in Da Nang, but it was also eagerly anticipated by wedding organizers due to the potential for accessing and learning about pricing and service types from various suppliers.
Twenty professional and renowned wedding event organizers from major Indian cities including Mumbai, New Delhi, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, and from Bangkok, Thailand, traveled to Da Nang for a wedding destination survey program organized by the Department of Tourism from June 5-9, 2024.
The program received coordination and support from many businesses including Da Nang Marriott Resort & Spa, Sheraton Grand Da Nang Resort & Convention Center, Renaissance Hoi An Resort & Spa, Sun Group, Furama Resort Da Nang, Vinpearl, Hyatt Regency Danang Resort & Spa, Wyndham Royal Hoi An, Da Nang Mikazuki Japanese Resorts & Spa, Naman Retreat…
Da Nang: A destination for wedding tourism, "Where happiness begins."
Mr. David Ippersiel, General Manager of Sheraton Grand Danang Resort & Convention Center, shared that partnering with the Da Nang Department of Tourism to welcome wedding organizers to survey Da Nang as a destination underscores the resort's commitment to making Da Nang a leading wedding destination with its stunning beauty, world-class infrastructure, and exceptional hospitality. “We believe this collaboration not only promotes Da Nang as a destination but also strengthens our brand presence in the wedding segment, while providing memorable experiences for couples and their families,” Mr. Ippersiel stated.
The Da Nang Wedding Tourism Conference is the first step in realizing the plan to promote Da Nang as "The Source of Happiness," making Da Nang a pioneering destination in promoting the wedding tourism segment to diversify the market and gradually delve deeper into high-quality customer segments.
