Over 730,000 visitors
According to a report from the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, during the April 30th - May 1st holiday period (from April 30th to May 3rd, 2026), the province is expected to welcome approximately 493,000 visitors, including about 8,600 international tourists. On average, the number of visitors during the April 30th - May 1st holiday in 2026 is projected to increase by 17.5%, and the number of international visitors by 17.6%, compared to the same period in 2025.
Previously, during the three-day Hung Kings' Commemoration Day holiday, the locality also welcomed approximately 240,000 visitors, including 5,900 international tourists. In total, over 730,000 visitors were recorded during the two consecutive holidays. This growth indicates that Quang Tri's tourism is entering a vibrant phase, marking the beginning of a brilliant summer tourist season.
The tourism atmosphere is widespread, encompassing historical and spiritual destinations as well as eco-tourism resorts and coastal cities. A dense series of cultural and tourism events organized in Minh Hoa, Dong Hoi, Con Co, Dong Ha, Cua Tung-Cua Viet, etc., has contributed to extending the length of stay and enhancing the experience for tourists.
In particular, the flag-raising ceremony commemorating the reunification of the country at the Hien Luong-Ben Hai National Special Historical Site created a strong ripple effect, attracting a large number of tourists to these historical and spiritual tourist spaces.
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| Tourists visit the Commander's Cave - a tourist attraction on the 20th Victory Route - Photo: DH |
As part of the Quang Tri Culture-Tourism Week 2026 events, entertainment products, festivals, cultural spaces, and cuisine also recorded great appeal.
According to Mr. Tran Van Minh, Director of the Regal Legend project (Dong Hoi ward), in the 8 days from April 24th to May 1st, the urban area welcomed more than 50,000 visitors who came to explore and experience activities such as water shows, festivals, culinary spaces, and fireworks displays.
"We determined that we needed to create a continuous, memorable experience to keep tourists staying longer. The high number of visitors during the holiday season shows that this approach is proving effective," Mr. Minh shared.
Meanwhile, on the island tourism route, Con Co also recorded a significant increase in visitors, with approximately 1,100 visitors during the holiday. Mr. Tran Xuan Anh, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the People's Committee of the Con Co Special Economic Zone, said that the locality had proactively prepared early to welcome the peak season.
"We focused on upgrading facilities, preparing human resources, and developing suitable products. As a result, despite the rapid increase in visitors, we were able to ensure good service and gradually improve the visitor experience," Mr. Tran Xuan Anh shared.
The transportation system was also operating at maximum capacity. At Dong Hoi Airport, 37 flights with 4,019 passengers were served during the four-day holiday. The railway also operated at a high frequency, with Dong Hoi and Dong Ha stations receiving a total of 55 trains, serving thousands of passengers.
Two-sided painting
Rapid growth in a short period quickly pushed the tourism infrastructure to its capacity limit. A shortage of rooms occurred in many key areas. While the average occupancy rate across the province was around 70%, in Dong Hoi ward, Phong Nha-Ke Bang area, Khe Sanh, and Cua Tung-Cua Viet, many accommodations reached 90% occupancy.
Mr. Dang Minh Quang, manager of Minh Quang Hotel (Dong Hoi Ward), said: “We were fully booked nearly two weeks before the holiday. Some guests booked rooms on platforms up to three months in advance. On peak days, we received more than 100 calls from guests looking to book rooms, but we could only meet 10%-12% of the demand…”
A widespread "room shortage" is occurring at many accommodations in the city center and key tourist destinations. Many hotels and homestays are completely booked throughout the holiday period, even from very early on. Some establishments have been forced to turn away guests or redirect them to nearby accommodations.
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| The Phong Nha-Ke Bang Tourism Center's boat dock is ready to welcome visitors for sightseeing and experiences - Photo: DH |
Amidst the surge in demand, many businesses have proactively and flexibly implemented measures to retain tourists. Some establishments have utilized common areas, grounds, or even set up temporary tents to assist groups of tourists who cannot find rooms, especially families or large groups. This is a temporary solution, but it partly demonstrates the efforts of businesses to prevent tourists from being put in a difficult situation during the peak tourist season.
However, behind these efforts lies significant pressure on accommodation capacity—one of the "bottlenecks" that has been identified for many years but has not been thoroughly addressed. When the number of tourists increases rapidly in a short period, the existing accommodation system struggles to keep up, especially in the mid-range and high-end segments.
This reality also necessitates restructuring the accommodation system towards greater diversity, not only increasing quantity but also improving quality, while rationally distributing accommodations to alleviate pressure on central areas. Without timely measures, the "room shortage" situation could continue to recur during peak seasons, directly impacting the tourist experience and the destination's image.
During the holiday season, several complaints from tourists regarding prices and service quality at various destinations appeared on social media platforms. Some opinions suggested that food and beverage prices tended to increase excessively and were not clearly displayed; overcrowding during peak hours led to extended service times and less-than-expected experiences. Although these complaints were localized, they highlighted the need for stricter price controls, greater transparency, and improved service quality during the peak tourist season.
Pressure also mounted on the transportation system as the number of private vehicles surged. Many routes leading to tourist destinations experienced localized traffic congestion, especially during peak hours. Coastal routes, the central area of Dong Hoi, and the route to Phong Nha-Ke Bang all recorded high traffic volumes and slow movement.
Ms. Tran Thi Mai, a tourist from Hanoi, shared: “My family had to spend extra time traveling due to heavy traffic, especially on the Nhat Le coastal road, but in return, the destinations were very beautiful and there were many activities, so we still felt the trip was worthwhile.”
Overall, this year's Hung Kings Commemoration Day and April 30th - May 1st holidays presented a mixed picture for Quang Tri tourism. On one hand, there was impressive growth in the number of visitors and a vibrant array of tourism and service activities. On the other hand, there were clear pressures on infrastructure and service capacity. These are issues that need to be addressed in the coming period so that Quang Tri tourism can focus on improving service quality, becoming a destination that is both attractive, professional, and memorable.
Dieu Huong
Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/du-lich/202605/du-lich-quang-tri-but-toc-71717d5/
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