diff --git a/crd-docs/cr/kiali.io_v1alpha1_kiali.yaml b/crd-docs/cr/kiali.io_v1alpha1_kiali.yaml
index b92eb1ba..8fed58be 100644
--- a/crd-docs/cr/kiali.io_v1alpha1_kiali.yaml
+++ b/crd-docs/cr/kiali.io_v1alpha1_kiali.yaml
@@ -446,8 +446,11 @@ spec:
         enabled: true
         port: 9090
       tracing:
+        collector_type: "jaeger"
         collector_url: "http://jaeger-collector.istio-system:14268/api/traces"
         enabled: false
+        otel:
+          protocol: "http"
     port: 20001
     web_fqdn: ""
     web_history_mode: ""
diff --git a/crd-docs/crd/kiali.io_kialis.yaml b/crd-docs/crd/kiali.io_kialis.yaml
index 7e44ca53..774912d9 100644
--- a/crd-docs/crd/kiali.io_kialis.yaml
+++ b/crd-docs/crd/kiali.io_kialis.yaml
@@ -1269,12 +1269,22 @@ spec:
                         description: "Settings that control how the Kiali server itself emits its own tracing data."
                         type: object
                         properties:
+                          collector_type:
+                            description: "The collector type to use. Value must be one of: `jaeger` or `otel`."
+                            type: string
                           collector_url:
                             description: "The URL used to determine where the Kiali server tracing data will be stored."
                             type: string
                           enabled:
                             description: "When true, the Kiali server itself will product its own tracing data."
                             type: boolean
+                          otel:
+                            description: "Specific properties when the collector type is `otel`."
+                            type: object
+                            properties:
+                              protocol:
+                                description: "Protocol. Supported values are: `http`, `https` or `grpc`."
+                                type: string
                   port:
                     description: "The port that the server will bind to in order to receive console and API requests."
                     type: integer
diff --git a/roles/default/kiali-deploy/defaults/main.yml b/roles/default/kiali-deploy/defaults/main.yml
index 550bafa4..409769ab 100644
--- a/roles/default/kiali-deploy/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/roles/default/kiali-deploy/defaults/main.yml
@@ -330,8 +330,11 @@ kiali_defaults:
         enabled: true
         port: 9090
       tracing:
+        collector_type: "jaeger"
         collector_url: http://jaeger-collector.istio-system:14268/api/traces
         enabled: false
+        otel:
+          protocol: "http"
     port: 20001
     web_fqdn: ""
     web_history_mode: ""