The National Tourism Year 2026, themed "Gia Lai - Great forest touching blue sea," will feature 244 diverse events nationwide. These include festivals, cultural programs, sports activities, and tourism promotion initiatives, organized quarterly to attract visitors.

Gia Lai province will host 109 of these events, while the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will organize 18 activities. The remaining events will be distributed across 22 other provinces and cities.

Speaking at the announcement event on 2/2 in Hanoi, Do Thi Dieu Hanh, Director of Gia Lai’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, highlighted the province's role as host of the National Tourism Year as a special milestone. She noted that the merger of Binh Dinh and Gia Lai, retaining the name Gia Lai, has created a new region. This area uniquely blends the "majestic vastness of the Central Highlands with the free-spirited beauty of the South Central Coast, forming a rare and diverse tourism ecosystem."

A view of Bien Ho (Sea Lake) featuring a statue of Bodhisattva Quan Am situated on a strip of land extending into the middle of the lake. *Photo: Phan Nguyen*

Hanh expressed hope that the National Tourism Year 2026 in Gia Lai will usher in a new, sustainable development phase for local tourism. The province aims to welcome 15 million visitors, with total tourism revenue estimated at 35,000 billion VND, marking an increase of over 20% compared to 2025.

She added that the province is prioritizing the development of unique tourism products. These products are closely linked to its natural resources, cultural identity, diverse cuisine, and friendly people, ensuring tourism development is integrated with heritage preservation and ecological environmental protection.

Nguyen Trung Khanh, Director of the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism, stated that Gia Lai was chosen to host the National Tourism Year 2026 based on criteria such as its natural and cultural resources, event organizing capabilities, and the local readiness following its merger.

Gia Lai spans over 21,500 km2, making it the second largest province in the country, with a population of approximately 3,5 million people. It serves as a vital bridge between the South Central Coast and the Central Highlands. With ample space for development and a diverse transportation infrastructure, including roads, air routes, sea links, and international border gates, the province possesses significant advantages for trade, regional connectivity, and tourism development.

Gia Lai boasts rich tourism resources, combining highland landscapes, coastal islands, and profound indigenous culture. It is home to many significant cultural values with national and international reach, such as the Central Highlands Gong Culture Space, Bai Choi art of the Central Region, and Binh Dinh traditional martial arts. Additionally, the province features a system of famous relics and scenic spots, including Cham towers, the Chu Dang Yam volcano system, and the Phuong Mai - Ky Co - Eo Gio peninsula. These elements provide a foundation for Gia Lai to establish a distinct destination image on the tourism map of Vietnam and the region.

The theme "Gia Lai - Great forest touching blue sea" also conveys a message of harmonious connection between the highlands and the sea, between majestic nature and cultural identity, aiming for conservation integrated with sustainable development.

The National Tourism Year is a national-scale cultural tourism event, organized annually under the direction of the Government and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. This event plays a significant role in introducing and promoting destination images, showcasing typical tourism products, honoring tangible and intangible cultural values, and fostering tourism development linkages to attract both domestic and international visitors.

Phuong Anh