Quang Tri Province welcomed the New Year 2026 with vibrant and optimistic energy as it warmly greeted the first visitors of the year, marking a positive beginning for the local tourism sector and reinforcing the province’s image as a friendly, attractive, and emerging destination.

On the morning of January 1, 2026, at Dong Hoi Airport, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Quang Tri Province organized a formal welcoming ceremony for the first group of tourists arriving by air in the new year. This meaningful event symbolized good fortune, hospitality, and renewed momentum for tourism development in 2026. Vietjet Air flight VJ260, departing from Ho Chi Minh City, landed at 7:05 a.m., carrying 180 passengers to Quang Tri, including five international tourists who became the first overseas visitors to “set foot” in the province at the start of the year.

Representatives from the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Quang Tri Tourism Promotion Center, the Quang Tri Tourism Association, and related agencies were present at the airport to extend a warm welcome. Passengers and flight crew members were greeted with fresh flowers and sincere New Year wishes, creating a joyful and memorable experience upon arrival. The ceremony not only expressed the province’s appreciation for visitors choosing Quang Tri as their first destination of the year but also demonstrated the local tourism industry’s readiness to serve and accompany travelers with professionalism and enthusiasm.

The welcoming atmosphere continued later that morning at Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park, one of Vietnam’s most renowned natural heritage sites and a key tourism highlight of the region. The Management Board of Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park, in coordination with the Phong Nha – Ke Bang Tourism Center and the Provincial Tourism Association, organized a New Year reception for visitors exploring the site on the first day of 2026. A total of 69 tourists were welcomed, including 15 international guests from various countries, along with domestic travelers.

In a friendly, cheerful, and hospitable setting, visitors were presented with flowers and traditional lucky money envelopes, symbolizing good luck, prosperity, and warm wishes for the year ahead. Many tourists expressed their excitement and appreciation for the thoughtful reception, noting that the warm hospitality added a special cultural touch to their journey and made their first travel experience of the year even more meaningful.

These New Year welcoming activities carry significant symbolic value, reflecting the strong commitment of Quang Tri Province to tourism recovery and sustainable development. After years of continuous efforts to enhance tourism infrastructure, diversify tourism products, and improve service quality, the early influx of visitors in 2026 is seen as an encouraging sign of growing confidence among travelers. It also highlights the province’s appeal as a destination that combines natural beauty, cultural heritage, historical significance, and genuine hospitality.

With a positive start marked by the arrival of the first visitors, Quang Tri’s tourism sector enters 2026 with high expectations for growth, innovation, and long-term sustainability. The province aims to continue promoting its unique tourism assets, strengthening regional and international connections, and delivering memorable experiences to visitors, thereby contributing to socio-economic development and positioning Quang Tri as an increasingly attractive destination on Vietnam’s tourism map.