Cát Tiên National Park, recognised by UNESCO as a World Biosphere Reserve in 2001, is one of the most-visited destinations in Đồng Nai Province. — Photo courtesy of the park

HCM CITY — Đồng Nai Province expects Long Thành International Airport to hold a vital position in its tourism development by 2030.

Speaking at a tourism promotion seminar, Lê Trường Sơn, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee, stated that the locality is facing a ‘historic opportunity’ with Long Thành International Airport. He noted that the project will pave the way for economic development and strengthen the province's tourism links with the global market.

Trịnh Tú Anh, Director of the Institute of Smart City and Management (ISCM) at HCM City University of Economics, said Đồng Nai needs a tourism development strategy aligned with the airport based on air passenger flow.

Anh said it is necessary to leverage the stopover model, which focuses on short-term tourism products that connect to ecological, cultural and entertainment destinations in the province.

She also emphasised the importance of turning infrastructure into a means of telling stories about local culture and history, with traffic stations and stopping points that can be designed as experimental spaces.

She added that the province should build a digital platform that aggregates flight, traffic and travel service data to help passengers plan their itineraries based on their transit, preferences, and spending, aiming to improve the tourist experience and maximise the efficiency of the tourism ecosystem around Long Thành International Airport.

Đồng Nai has significant potential to boost tourism, with forests, lakes, and mountains that promote ecotourism, including Cát Tiên National Park, recognised by UNESCO as a World Biosphere Reserve in 2001, and Trị An Lake, the largest artificial lake in the southern region.

It is also home to historical and cultural relics, such as Trấn Biên Temple of Literature; War Zone D and Tà Thiết Base, “red addresses” for patriotic education; and diverse traditional craft villages, which provide favourable conditions for cultural and historical tourism development.

At the seminar, Võ Quang Liên Kha, Deputy General Director of Vietravel Group JSC, announced a proposal to invest in a five-star hotel in the Long Thanh International Airport urban area with a capacity of 300-500 rooms.

Kha said that with its natural beauty and a rich history and culture, Đồng Nai has potential for tourism development. The operation of the airport creates opportunities to develop various types of tourism, such as event tourism, MICE, and eco-tourism.

Đồng Nai currently has 225 tourist accommodation establishments with only one five-star hotel, one four-star hotel, and 37 hotels rated from one to three stars.

Vice Chairman Sơn said Đồng Nai has maintained growth in both tourism arrivals and revenue in recent years; however, its tourism growth was not commensurate with its potential.

He added that the province will develop a strategic and practical tourism project during 2026-2030 with the airport as a “nucleus.”

Sơn emphasised that restructuring the province's development space and putting Long Thành International Airport into operation are not only economic tasks but also imperative to change its thinking on tourism development. — VNS