Hosting National Tourism Year - Gia Lai 2026 is being viewed as a pivotal opportunity for the province to strengthen its position on Vietnam’s tourism map and enhance links between the Central Highlands and the South Central Coast.
Below are perspectives from officials, experts and businesses on expectations for the sector’s next phase.
Developing cultural tourism is a promising direction for Gia Lai tourism. Photo: Doan Ngoc
* Vice Chairwoman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Thi Thanh Lich:
Vice Chairwoman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Thi Thanh Lich. Photo: Quang Tan
The National Tourism Year - Gia Lai 2026 carries significance beyond tourism, contributing to broader socio-economic development. It offers a platform to promote the province’s image, people and cultural identity to both domestic and international audiences, thereby strengthening the brand of Gia Lai tourism.
The event is expected to accelerate the professional and sustainable development of tourism, while supporting related sectors such as services, trade and transport. It will also help generate jobs, raise incomes and attract investment into infrastructure and tourism facilities.
Authorities expect clear breakthroughs, including higher visitor numbers and revenue, more competitive tourism products, improved human resources and a stronger role for tourism in the local economy.
*Dr. Vu Dinh Chien, Head of Tourism Faculty, Quy Nhon College of Engineering and Technology:
Dr. Vu Dinh Chien. Photo: Provided by the subject
To build a tourism brand linked to the “great forest - blue sea” concept, the workforce must be capable of delivering compelling and professional destination narratives.
Training should focus on versatile personnel with inter-regional knowledge, able to design seamless travel experiences. Digital skills, including marketing and artificial intelligence applications, are increasingly essential.
Service quality must align with national and international standards, with stronger foreign language and intercultural communication skills. Developing local human resources, particularly among ethnic minorities and coastal communities, will help create distinctive tourism products rooted in identity.
* Researcher Nguyen Thanh Quang:
Researcher Nguyen Thanh Quang. Photo: Doan Ngoc
Gia Lai holds a significant advantage in its rich cultural and historical heritage, which forms a foundation for cultural tourism. However, the challenge lies in effectively leveraging these resources.
While preservation efforts have been positive, many heritage values remain underutilised, with investment and promotion lacking depth and coherence. The storytelling aspect, connecting cultural layers into engaging narratives, remains limited.
Greater investment and more effective promotion are needed to unlock this “treasure trove” and attract visitors seeking authentic experiences.
The main activities of National Tourism Year – Gia Lai 2026 held in Quy Nhon ward are an opportunity for the locality to welcome a large influx of visitors. Photo: Dung Nhan
* Mr. Nguyen Duc Toan, Chairman of the People's Committee of Quy Nhon Ward:
Mr. Nguyen Duc Toan. Photo: Provided by the subject
The event is expected to bring a surge in visitors to Quy Nhon ward, helping promote its image as a dynamic and welcoming coastal destination.
It will also support the professionalisation of services and improve tourism standards.
The Quy Nhon Pleiku tourism linkage is emerging as a key development direction, aligning with inter-regional tourism trends. Authorities plan to diversify tourism products, strengthen connections and enhance cultural exchanges between coastal and highland areas.
Efforts will also focus on attracting investment, improving human resources and advancing digital transformation to ensure sustainable growth.
* Mr. Huynh Vu Tri, Owner of Song Suoi Homestay (Quy Nhon Ward):
Mr. Huynh Vu Tri. Photo: Doan Ngoc
The homestay mainly serves international visitors, particularly from Europe and the Americas, who tend to stay longer and seek authentic cultural experiences.
Beyond accommodation, it offers activities such as visits to historical sites, craft villages and fishing communities, as well as local cuisine experiences, factors that leave strong impressions on foreign guests.
However, a key limitation is the lack of nighttime tourism products and spending opportunities. Increased investment in nightlife and large-scale cultural performances could help extend visitor stays and boost spending, especially as regional linkages strengthen under the 2026 tourism year.
Gia Lai will officially launch its 2026 Summer Tourism Festival on June 20 at Nguyen Tat Thanh Square in Quy Nhon Ward, marking the start of a tourism campaign aimed at promoting its destinations and attracting visitors through a diverse programme of cultural, sports and tourism events.
Gia Lai province is intensifying international cooperation efforts to attract investment, expand tourism and create new drivers of economic growth, reflecting Vietnam’s broader policy of independent, self-reliant, multilateral and diversified foreign relations.
Gia Lai’s Hoài Nhơn Ward is seeking to transform its extensive coconut groves into a distinctive tourism asset, combining cultural heritage, community-based experiences and coastal attractions to create a unique destination in central Vietnam.
Authorities in Quy Nhon have launched a dedicated passenger pick-up and drop-off point at Mui Tan Wharf for tourist boats serving Nhon Chau Island, replacing the previous departure point at Ham Tu fishing port as part of efforts to improve service quality, enhance safety and tourism management.
The 6th Cham Ethnic Cultural Festival will be held in Khanh Hoa Province from June 26 to 28, 2026, bringing together Cham communities from seven provinces and cities across Vietnam to celebrate and promote their cultural heritage.
Gia Lai is seeking closer cooperation with South Korea’s leading travel company HanaTour to expand tourism links and promote charter flight services, as the province prepares to host Vietnam’s National Tourism Year 2026 and increase international visitor arrivals.
After a nearly 10-hour trek covering more than 8 kilometres through dense forest, visitors were only able to approach within just over 10 metres of Hon Chuong Tower before thick fog obscured the solitary Cham structure perched atop Hon Chuong Mountain in De Gi Commune, Gia Lai Province.
Gia Lai is well positioned to become a leading sports tourism destination in Vietnam’s central and highland regions, experts said at a national scientific conference held on June 5 in Quy Nhon Ward.
The Tien Son alluvial ground in Bien Ho commune has become a popular weekend destination for families, students and young people seeking outdoor recreation, fresh air and scenic views in Gia Lai Province.
East Quy Nhon Ward in Gia Lai Province will hold its first-ever tourism festival on May 29-30, 2026, aiming to promote the area’s coastal heritage, community culture and seaside tourism under the theme “East Quy Nhon - The colors of the sea calling”.
A delegation of Australian tourism partners, travel agents, wholesalers, buyers and media representatives is surveying tourism destinations in Quy Nhon and Gia Lai as part of a famtrip program aimed at promoting Vietnam's central region to the Australian market.
Cassia javanica trees in full bloom are drawing crowds of visitors and photography enthusiasts to Ơp Village in Pleiku Ward, where pale pink blossoms have transformed the area around the village communal house into a popular seasonal attraction.
The community vegetable village in Thuận Nghĩa hamlet, Tây Sơn commune in Gia Lai is emerging as a growing destination for community-based tourism, combining VietGAP-certified agriculture with the preserved charm of a traditional Vietnamese countryside village.
Lakeside camping and outdoor recreation are rapidly gaining popularity on the Gia Lai plateau as locals and tourists seek nature-focused escapes during the summer months.
Authorities on Nhơn Châu island commune in Gia Lai province are promoting new livelihood models linked to experiential tourism as the locality seeks to diversify incomes and reduce residents’ dependence on fishing.
Thousands of Asian Openbill Storks have returned to the southeastern fields of Vietnam’s Gia Lai plateau following the rice harvest, creating sweeping aerial displays across the Central Highlands during the dry season.
The East Quy Nhon Ward will hold its first Tourism Festival on May 29 and 30, 2026, featuring a wide range of cultural, sports and tourism activities aimed at promoting the area’s coastal heritage and tourism potential.
Tourism and cultural activities surged across Gia Lai province on the first day of Vietnam’s April 30-May 1 holiday, as visitors flocked to destinations and joined festivals marking the start of the peak travel period.
The People’s Committee of Gia Lai Province has approved a master plan to 2045 to develop Bien Ho Commune into a major eco-cultural tourism hub for both the province and Vietnam’s Central Highlands region.
Northern Vietnam in April offers a period of calm transition, where fading spring drizzle gives way to clear skies and mild warmth, creating an ideal backdrop for quiet travel and cultural reflection.
A growing influx of international tourists to the Central Highlands is exposing a critical gap in community tourism: a shortage of local storytellers able to communicate cultural heritage in foreign languages.
Gia Lai province will promote its tourism potential at the Vietnam International Travel Mart (VITM) 2026, which opens in Hanoi on April 10, positioning itself ahead of its role as host of the National Tourism Year 2026.
Quy Nhon, a coastal city in central Vietnam, is gaining international recognition for its clean environment, relaxed lifestyle and growing appeal among repeat foreign visitors, positioning itself as an emerging destination in Southeast Asia.
Community-based tourism is expanding across Vietnam, emerging as a key driver of rural development by improving local livelihoods while preserving cultural identity.
