Developing tourism into new growth driver

With the goal of developing high-quality, smart, green, and creative tourism that is rich in cultural identity, generates high added value, and is competitive at both regional and international levels, the Politburo issued Resolution No. 26-NQ/TW on August 22, 2026, calling for Vietnam’s tourism sector to become a spearhead economic sector in the new era.

Tri An Lake area is planned as a national tourism area.

In Dong Nai, the City Party Committee (CPC) has also issued Resolution No. 10-NQ/TU on developing tourism into a strong economic sector, to tap the city’s new potential and advantages and contribute to local socio-economic development.

A strategic compass to drive tourism breakthroughs

Against the backdrop of rapid changes in global tourism, countries face major challenges requiring flexible responses and comprehensive, sustainable strategies. To unlock all available resources, drive breakthrough tourism development, and reinforce tourism’s position as a spearhead economic sector, Politburo Resolution No. 26 serves as a guiding framework for Vietnam’s tourism sector to formulate strategic and coordinated policies.

Resolution No. 26 emphasizes that the tourism sector and business community must fundamentally renew their thinking, approaches, and practices to shift the growth model and tourism governance from a focus on “quantity” to one on “quality.” This will increase the added value generated for the economy and contribute to the country’s goal of rapid and sustainable development.

The resolution states that tourism is to become a spearhead economic sector and a new growth driver for the country, contributing to the goal of achieving double-digit economic growth. Culture will serve as the core foundation for tourism, while cultural identity and the quality of visitor experiences will be its competitive advantages. At the same time, the sector will be driven by science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation. Tourism will also evolve into an integrated economic ecosystem, driving the development of trade, services, transport, cultural and creative industries, agriculture, the digital economy, and the night-time economy.

Addressing the National Conference on studying, disseminating, and implementing several Politburo resolutions and directives on September 3, General Secretary and State President To Lam emphasized that tourism development must be integrated into the national development strategy and regional economic space, become a new growth driver, and enhance the country’s soft power. Tourism should be organized as an integrated, cross-sectoral, and inter-regional economic ecosystem.

The sector must make a decisive shift from quantity to quality, added value, and competitiveness, while positioning culture, identity, and visitor experiences as its competitive advantages, and science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, and green transformation as its key drivers. Bottlenecks involving institutions, visas, infrastructure, destination management, human resources, data, and tourism promotion must be removed, with a focus on high-spending, long-stay visitors. Regional linkages must create distinctive products, shared brands, and substantive value chains. Businesses should serve as the pioneering force, while local people should be the key actors in tourism development. Heritage, cultural identity, and the environment must not be sacrificed for short-term growth.

Tourism set to become a strong economic sector

Dong Nai has considerable potential for comprehensive development across industry, agriculture, services, and tourism. In particular, its multimodal transport network, comprising road, rail, inland waterway, maritime, and air transport, is opening up new opportunities to attract investment and drive economic development, including tourism.

To fully tap its tourism potential and raise the profile of the local tourism sector, Resolution No. 10 sets out clear orientations for tourism development in the city. Notably, it calls for tourism to become a strong and integrated economic sector focused on high quality and high standards, with clear priorities and a strong emphasis on the city’s distinctive potential and advantages. Tourism is also identified as one of the city’s five economic pillars and a task for the entire political system, all levels and sectors, and society as a whole.

In the first eight months of 2026, Dong Nai welcomed more than 4 million tourist arrivals, including nearly 3.9 million domestic visitors and more than 100,000 international visitors. Tourism revenue exceeded VND3 trillion.

Alongside stronger Party leadership and direction over tourism development, Dong Nai will also seek to harness the role of businesses and local communities as important drivers of the sector. This will help accelerate economic restructuring and support the development of multiple sectors and industries.

To ensure coordinated and sustainable tourism development, Dong Nai will align its tourism strategy with the Tourism System Master Plan for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2045. Tourism development will build on local potential and strengths while preserving landscapes and conserving and promoting local cultural values.

Dong Nai aims to welcome between 11.5 million and 20 million tourist arrivals annually during the 2030-2035 period, with average annual growth in visitor numbers of 12-18%. Tourism service revenue is targeted at VND11.9-24 trillion a year, with annual growth of 15-27%.

To achieve these targets, Resolution No. 10 sets out a range of tasks and solutions, including stepping up communications to raise awareness, renewing thinking, and strengthening the Party’s role in providing strategic direction for tourism development. The city will also intensify efforts to attract focused and prioritized investment in tourism while developing distinctive tourism products.

Dong Nai will develop three major tourism product groups based on its strengths. The first will focus on ecotourism, resorts, and entertainment associated with forest ecosystems, with tourism projects planned for Cat Tien National Park, Tan Phu Protection Forest, Chua Chan Mountain, and the Tri An Lake area. The second will be cultural and spiritual tourism. The third will comprise agricultural, rural, and community-based tourism in potential areas such as Ta Lai Community Tourism Village and garden ecotourism areas in Long Khanh and Xuan Loc.

The city will also accelerate the development of an international convention center and a system of high-end four- and five-star hotels, together with a free-trade zone to support MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) tourism and shopping. The aim is to maximize visitors’ length of stay and spending in the Long Thanh Airport City area.

Speaking at a meeting with the City’s Tourism Development Steering Committee, Le Truong Son, Vice Chairman of the City People’s Committee, stressed that departments, agencies, and localities must closely coordinate to ensure the effective implementation of Resolution No. 10.

By N.Lien – Translated by M.Nguyet, Minho