KON TUM, Vietnam – Kon Tum Province in Vietnam's Central Highlands region is aiming to boost tourism and improve the livelihoods of ethnic minorities by developing 10 community-based tourism villages in Kon Plông District by 2030. The initiative is driven by a directive from the provincial Party Committee, emphasizing the need to create new tourist attractions and increase income for local communities.

The plan involves mobilizing resources for infrastructure development, enhancing tourism services, and providing training to villagers to improve their professional skills in the tourism sector. A key focus will be developing unique tourism products that showcase the traditional cultural values of the ethnic minority groups in the region.

Bạch Thị Mân, deputy director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, highlighted the significance of the directive in shaping the tourism development strategy for ethnic minority villages. She emphasized the province's focus on leveraging its strengths in ecotourism and community-based tourism in 2025.

The 10 selected villages are Kon Pring, Kon Vơng Kia, and Kon Leeng in Măng Đen town; Kon Chênh and Kon Tu Rằng in Măng Cành commune; Kon Klùng and Kon Plông in Hiếu commune; Đăk Lanh in Măng Bút commune; Rô Xia in Đăk Tăng commune; and Vi K'Tầu in Pờ Ê commune.

These villages will complement the existing Măng Đen Eco-tourism Area, a popular destination that has seen rapid growth in recent years. Visitor numbers to Măng Đen increased from 600,000 in 2022 to one million in 2023, and reached 1.2 million in 2024, generating over VNĐ420 billion (US$16.4 million) in revenue. This surge in popularity has necessitated improvements in service quality and infrastructure.

Đặng Quang Hà, chairman of Kon Plông District People’s Committee, noted that Măng Đen's success demonstrates its appeal as a green, clean, and welcoming destination. He added that the district has developed new tourism offerings, including the Night Economic Zone, Măng Đen Market, Măng Đen Art Garden, and the community-based tourism villages themselves.

Kon Plông District currently boasts 139 accommodation establishments, including resorts, hotels, and homestays, providing a total of 1,250 rooms capable of accommodating over 6,000 guests daily. The average room occupancy rate is between 65 and 70 percent, climbing to over 90 percent during peak periods like the Tết (Lunar New Year) holiday.