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.
The second Tà Má Stream Wild Azalea Festival will take place on March 21 in Hà Ri village, Vĩnh Thịnh commune, offering visitors a blend of natural scenery and Bahnar Kriêm cultural traditions.
Gia Lai province is aiming to welcome 15 million visitors in 2026 and generate VND 35 trillion (about USD 1.4 billion) in tourism revenue, as local authorities and industry leaders prepare to convene a major forum to accelerate the sector’s growth.
Gia Lai is positioning itself for a significant tourism surge as Vietnam prepares to host National Tourism Year 2026, an event expected to draw 15 million visitors and generate VND 35 trillion (approximately USD 1.4 billion) in tourism revenue, up 20.7% from 2025.
Authorities in Gia Lai province have completed key preparations for the opening week of National Tourism Year 2026, with officials emphasising safety, logistics and visitor management ahead of the main event on March 28.
A growing network of eco-friendly farmstays in Vietnam’s Central Highlands province of Gia Lai is attracting visitors seeking tranquility, cultural immersion and nature-based experiences, as the locality prepares for National Tourism Year 2026.
(GLO) – Nestled amid the rolling mountains and forests, the Ia Ly Hydropower Dam curves gracefully like a bow, embracing the deep blue reservoir. From this monumental energy project, a series of new destinations have emerged, offering a wealth of fresh experiences that captivate visitors.
The afternoon of March 5 in Hanoi, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ngo Le Van and Vice Chairwoman of the Gia Lai Provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Thi Thanh Lich co-chaired an international press conference on the National Tourism Year - Gia Lai 2026.
Two of Đak Rong’s most remote waterfalls, Kon Bông and Kon Lốc, are drawing attention for their unspoiled landscapes and striking geological formations, offering a rare look at the raw beauty of Vietnam’s Eastern Trường Sơn range.
Vietnam recorded around 14 million tourist arrivals during the nine-day Bính Ngọ Lunar New Year 2026 holiday, marking a 12% increase from the same period last year, according to the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism.
Bright red pơ lang blossoms are transforming the border route along National Highway 19B in Vietnam’s Gia Lai province, drawing travelers toward the Lệ Thanh International Border Gate as spring approaches.
Gia Lai Province and the Vietnam Tourism Association have agreed on a series of strategic cooperation initiatives to prepare for Vietnam’s National Tourism Year 2026.
Drifting beneath honey-gold light on a late-year afternoon, Bien Ho Lake in Gia Lai province reveals itself as a serene meeting point of sky and water, where the highlands seem to pause on the threshold of spring.
(GLO) – On the afternoon of February 13, the People’s Committee of Nhơn Châu Commune held a grand inauguration ceremony for the decorative installation and the cluster of mascots welcoming the Year of the Horse 2026, creating a vibrant highlight for the island commune’s festive New Year atmosphere.
Quy Nhon is expanding community-based initiatives and developing new tourism products as the coastal city works to preserve its “ASEAN Clean Tourist City” title and prepare for major opportunities linked to National Tourism Year 2026.
Quy Nhon received the “ASEAN clean tourist city 2026” title at the ASEAN Tourism Awards on January 30, held during the 45th ASEAN Tourism Forum at the Nustar Convention Center in Cebu City.
Gia Lai is preparing for a sharp rise in visitor numbers during the nine-day Lunar New Year holiday in 2026, as the province readies to host Vietnam’s National Tourism Year 2026. Authorities and businesses say the festive season is expected to kick-start a vibrant year for local tourism.
Gia Lai authorities on Wednesday called for intensified preparations for National Tourism Year - Gia Lai 2026, urging all units to strictly follow the approved plan and ensure high-quality communication efforts to attract domestic and international visitors.
Tourism products from Gia Lai Province are attracting significant visitor interest at the ongoing 2026 Spring Fair in Hanoi, offering distinctive Central Highlands experiences and contributing to the promotion of the province ahead of the National Tourism Year.
Gia Lai province introduced its tourism potential and the theme of National Tourism Year 2026 at the “Gia Lai Day in Hanoi” event held Friday on Trinh Cong Son Street in Tay Ho District, aiming to boost national and international visibility for the Central Highlands locality.
Pleiku Ward on January 30 officially launched “Chợ Nhỏ Night Street,” a new cultural and tourism space designed to stimulate the local night-time economy and expand community-based activities.
Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has approved the project for National Tourism Year 2026, confirming the title “National Tourism Year - Gia Lai 2026”, with the English name “Visit Viet Nam Year - Gia Lai 2026”.
The Secretary of the Party Committee of Pleiku Ward, Nguyen Xuan Phuoc, inspected final preparations on January 27 for the opening ceremony of the “Cho Nho night street” event, scheduled for January 30.
Wild apricot and đỗ mai blossoms are transforming the mountains of Vietnam’s Gia Lai province, while vibrant green moss carpets the coastal villages to the east, creating contrasting scenes that signal the arrival of spring across the Central Highlands.
