Hong Kong tourists want to be granted visa at Danang

The foreign partners said their proposal is to attract Hong Kong travelers to the central coast city at weekends.

Tran Chi Cuong, deputy director of the culture department, said as the travel time from Hong Kong to Danang is not long, Hong Kong travel agencies want their customers to be given visa at Danang Airport. They expect such a special treatment to enable their clients to fly to Danang right after they finish their job, he noted.

In fact, Hong Kong visitors consider it bothersome to spend time applying for visa procedures for their short holidays in Vietnam.

According to Cuong, Cathay Pacific will cooperate with Hong Kong travel agencies to take tourists, mainly leisure visitors, to Danang and the air carrier has asked for Danang’s support relating to a number of services. Besides preferential visa procedures, Cathay Pacific also wants to enjoy fee deduction for ground services in Danang Airport, he said.

If every thing runs smoothly, the first flight from Hong Kong to Danang will be launched in June next year, he added.

“Danang Airport has agreed to halve related fees as it now is trying to attract foreign air carriers,” Cuong told the Daily. He also said his agency is seeking approval from relevant authorities regarding the issuance of border-gate-visa, adding other things would be arranged soon by the agency.

In the meantime, Vietnam Airlines has seen positive signals to open air services to Hong Kong as well.

The national flag carrier already launched three pilot flights on September 30, October 4 and 7 by Airbus 321 with the number of passengers recorded at 169-175 people over a total of 181 seats or 85-90% occupancy. The air carrier has also arranged a promotion tour for representatives of 20 tour operators and media from Hong Kong to Danang City.