Da Nang taps OTA partnerships to boost destination appeal"

According to Nguyen Thi Hong Tham, the Director of Da Nang Center for Tourism Promotion, OTAs such as Traveloka, Klook, Booking.com and Agoda have become more than just booking platforms. They serve as powerful tools for marketing, research and global branding.

Agoda recently ranked Da Nang among the top 10 Asian cities with the highest return rate of visitors, while Booking.com listed it as one of the most sought-after destinations during Vietnam’s National Day holiday.

Although Da Nang’s tourism sector has only recently tapped into OTA channels, it has already signed several cooperation agreements to boost demand.

Reports show a steady rise in searches and bookings for the city, fueled by data sharing and customer insights from OTAs.

From the business perspective, Nguyen Thi Uyen Na, the Head of Online Sales at Vietnam Travelmart, described OTAs as the “global window” of tourism.

They provide market data, facilitate marketing campaigns at scale and at relatively low cost, and offer review systems that help build reputation and trust.

While individual products can be directly connected to OTAs, local travel companies remain crucial for developing packages, new offerings and market-driven products.

Looking ahead, Da Nang’s tourism authority plans to publish a transparent list of trusted OTAs, operate a hotline for verification, and expand digital campaigns for major festivals such as the Da Nang International Fireworks Festival.

The city is also urging OTAs to provide API access, support training for small businesses, and collaborate with influencers and travel bloggers to amplify authentic experiences.