Lam Dong Tourism in the Central Highlands Development Master Plan
“The Central Highlands tourism development Masterplan to 2020, with a vision to 2030” has been approved by the Prime Minister. Goals are set: By 2030, Central Highlands Tourism becomes an important economic industry, creating motivations to boost other economic sectors to develop, positively contributing to the socio – economic growth of the region, significantly contributing to poverty reduction and rural development, ensuring social security and maintaining national defense, security, social order and safety. In particular, the strength of Lam Dong Da Lat tourism has been identified as a local key role leading to the development strategy of regional tourism.
We can say that, Lam Dong with its strengths has got necessary conditions for travel and tourism operations in the view of development set by this plan, that is, Regional Tourism development in the direction of strengthening links between the Central Highlands and other regions in the country and international links in tourism development to maximize potential and strengths of each local tourism and the whole region. Simultaneous development of cultural tourism, eco-tourism, mountain tourist resort, of which focusing on cultural tourism with nucleus of cultural values of ethnic Highland as foundation for the development of tourism forms; tourism development in parallel with the preservation and promotion of cultural values of Central Highlands ethnic minorities. Together with it is the exploitation of tourism product development being green tourism to increase competitiveness and focus on community – based tourism development, creating job opportunities, poverty reduction & hunger eradication associated with the development of new countryside.

Tuyen Lam Lake in Dalat
As for tourism development space, Da Lat in Lam Dong province is defined as one of the focal localities with its specific strengths of Tuyen Lam Lake and Dankia Suoi Vang Lake, which are predominant characteristics in terms of natural resources and major exploitation of sightseeing, eco tourism and rest & recreation. For Da Lat, major tourism products are defined as mountain & lake rest; sightseeing, research, study of indigenous cultural values; research of natural ecosystems; high-tech agro-ecotourism; recreational tourism, golf, adventure sports; weekend tourism, honeymoon; MICE ( Meeting, Incentive, Conference, Exhibition), Festival tourism. According to this planning, Da Lat of Lam Dong is defined as a resort city with major tourist routes to (and fro) destinations such as Gia Nghia – Buon Ma Thuot – Pleiku – Kon Tum; TP HCM and the Mekong –Delta provinces; HCMC – Vung Tàu – Long Hai; Di Linh – Phan Thiet – Long Hai – Vũng Tau; Phan Rang – Nha Trang and South – Central coastal provinces; Ha Noi and Northern provinces; Buon Ma Thuot – Kon Tum – Lao… of 8 tourist spots defined as “potential” as mentioned in the planning, Lam Dong has 2 sites, namely, Dan Kia Suoi Vang and Tuyen Lam with major exploitation being “sightseeing, ecological reserach, mountain rest & recreation associated with medical treatment, cosmetics care, study of cultural ethnic identity, golf, aquatic sports …”.. According to the above – mentioned plan, the demand for capital to invest in tourism development in the Central Highlands to 2020 and vision to 2030 is 60,270 billion đồng (equivalent to U.S. $ 2,940 million), including investment from the state budget (including ODA), FDI, capital raised from donations from organizations, businesses and national economic sectors and other mobilized funds , of which are major mobilized capital sources; capital from state budget supports tourism infrastructure only. This capital source will focus on investment in 8 national tourism spots (of which Da Lat has 2 sites), 1 national tourist city – Da Lat, and some local tourist sites within regional tourism space. Regarding implementation, according to the approval of the Government, Lam Dong will join other localities in the Central Highlands to initiate and expand links with local authorities in the area to promote and attract tourists and call for investments in tourism development; encourage local businesses to build specific products and create favorable conditions for enterprises to link in tourism development in the area with other localities…
By TIPC Lam Dong