Da Lat proactively adjusts traffic flows and promotes tourism as Lien Khuong Airport temporarily closes

The conference was attended by representatives from several provincial departments and agencies of Lam Dong Province, leaders of central wards in Da Lat, and representatives from tourism enterprises and travel agencies.

At the meeting, participants focused on traffic regulation plans and solutions to maintain tourist flows while aviation services are temporarily disrupted.

According to local authorities, the suspension of operations at Lien Khuong Airport for about six months is expected to have a significant impact on the locality’s tourism and transportation activities. On average, the airport handles over 5,000 passengers daily across approximately 34 arrivals and departures.

With the airport temporarily closed, nearly 960,000 air passenger trips to and from Da Lat are estimated to be disrupted.

The disruption could reduce arrivals among mid-range and high-end travelers, international visitors, and MICE tourists, who mainly travel by air. Meanwhile, the number of visitors traveling to Da Lat by road is expected to rise sharply in the months ahead.

Mr Nguyen Duong Trung Huu, Deputy Head of the Division of Economy, Infrastructure and Urban Development of Xuan Huong – Da Lat Ward, said the increase in buses, trucks and private vehicles traveling to Da Lat from other provinces could place considerable pressure on the transport system, particularly at gateway routes and central areas.

In response, functional agencies have developed traffic diversion plans and are coordinating with traffic police and local authorities to regulate vehicles and reduce congestion during peak hours.

Several central roads are also being studied for one-way traffic arrangements for large passenger buses, particularly those with 29 seats or more.

In addition to traffic regulation, local authorities are reviewing the city’s parking system. Currently, Da Lat has about 19 designated parking areas, but many locations still fall short of actual demand.

Therefore, authorities are studying the possibility of adding new parking locations in areas such as the former Cam Ly Airport and other suitable sites to reduce pressure at the center.

At the same time, central wards are strengthening coordination in urban management, traffic guidance and tourist assistance to ensure convenient and safe road access to Da Lat.

Nguyen Lan Ngoc, Deputy Director of the Lam Dong Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said the temporary suspension of Lien Khuong Airport would certainly affect the local tourism industry, particularly high-spending travelers who typically use air transport.

However, she noted that the situation also presents an opportunity for Da Lat to restructure its tourism market by expanding domestic tourism and attracting more road-bound travelers.

During this period, Lam Dong’s tourism sector will focus on key markets such as Ho Chi Minh City, the Southeast region, the South Central Coast and the Central Highlands—all of which have convenient road access to Da Lat.

Tourism enterprises are encouraged to develop short tours, weekend getaways, and all-inclusive packages that combine transportation, accommodation and sightseeing to better serve travelers arriving by car.

At the same time, the locality will strengthen connections with nearby airports such as Cam Ranh (Khanh Hoa Province) and Buon Ma Thuot (Dak Lak Province) to develop combined air-and-road tourism programs, giving visitors more travel options when coming to Da Lat.

To stimulate tourism demand, Lam Dong plans to organize numerous programs and events throughout 2026.

According to the plan, the province will launch its summer tourism season in mid-April, lasting until August, with a series of cultural, sports and tourism activities designed to attract visitors.

In addition, in May, the locality will organize Lam Dong Culture – Tourism Day in Ho Chi Minh City to promote the destination and introduce new tourism products.

The tourism sector is also oriented toward expanding experiential tourism activities such as agricultural tourism, wellness and health-care retreats, trekking, mountain biking and the exploration of local cultural heritage.

At the same time, nighttime economic activities—including night markets, pedestrian streets, performance spaces and culinary areas—will be further promoted to enhance visitor experiences.

Dang Duc Hiep, Secretary of the Party Committee of Xuan Huong - Da Lat Ward, said the temporary loss of air travelers will place considerable pressure on Da Lat’s tourism industry in the short term.

However, he noted that this is also an opportunity for the locality to shift from a fragmented tourism approach to a development model with closer coordination among authorities, businesses and neighboring localities.

Mr. Dang Duc Hiep emphasized that Da Lat possesses significant advantages in climate, landscapes and tourism resource, but these strengths need to be transformed into competitive tourism products.

Da Lat is also developing a digital tourism map and updating its database of attractions to provide convenient travel information for visitors.

At the conference, representatives of tourism businesses said the temporary closure of Lien Khuong Airport would directly affect visitor numbers, especially high-end and international tourists.

However, many businesses have proactively launched promotional campaigns, discounted room rates and integrated packages combining accommodation, transportation and sightseeing to attract road-based travelers.

Businesses also proposed that the province strengthen destination promotion across digital platforms, social media and online travel marketplaces, while organizing more cultural and tourism events throughout the year to enhance the destination’s appeal.

According to representatives of the tourism sector, if stimulus measures are implemented in close coordination between authorities and businesses, Da Lat can maintain a stable flow of visitors during the airport’s temporary closure, while also opening opportunities for stronger growth in the road-based tourism market in the coming period.