Target to welcome 15 million visitors
After many months of preparation, Gia Lai officially opened the 2026 National Tourism Year with thousands of people, domestic and international tourists participating. The sea area is bustling, the plateau is also excited and bustling with gongs for the attractive festival season for tourists.
According to the 2025 summary report of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Gia Lai province, the locality welcomed about 12.4 million visitors in 2025, an increase of 16.7% compared to 2024. Of which, international visitors reached 125,000, an increase of nearly 10%; domestic visitors reached more than 12.27 million. Revenue is estimated at 29,000 billion VND, the highest level ever. In 2026, the province sets a target of welcoming 15 million visitors, with revenue reaching about 40,000 billion VND.
At the Gia Lai tourism development conference 2026, Mr. Pham Anh Tuan - Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee emphasized that Gia Lai converges a marine - forest ecosystem and many favorable factors for tourism development, from natural potential to thinking, vision and the companionship of investors and businesses in effectively exploiting destinations.
Mr. Tuan said that after a difficult time due to the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic, this is a suitable time for Gia Lai tourism to break through. The province requests investors, businesses, and experts to identify bottlenecks and propose solutions to build Gia Lai tourism to develop in the coming period.
Efforts to expand routes, connect markets
At the investment promotion conference and tourism seminars, the Gia Lai provincial government established a strategy to develop a synchronous tourism ecosystem. In which, Quy Nhon urban area east of the sea is positioned as a platform to attract international visitors with high-class service standards. Pleiku urban area on the highlands becomes a new development space, a place to preserve cultural identity, landscapes and unique experiences, indigenous culture, creating a harmonious linked tourism chain.
To increase the number of tourists to the locality, some businesses propose that the province soon make efforts to expand routes, strengthen market connections, build a strong enough ecosystem to welcome international visitors and develop attractive tourism products. In addition, close coordination between the government and businesses is also needed to find investment opportunities.
Over the past time, Gia Lai has increased investment in infrastructure and aviation to activate destinations and attract tourists. In which, Phu Cat Airport is oriented to upgrade, reaching a capacity of about 5 million passengers/year by 2030 and 7 million passengers/year by 2050, gradually moving towards becoming an international airport. Pleiku Airport is also gradually continuing to upgrade its capacity and passenger volume.
Roads such as National Highway 25, National Highway 19, traffic infrastructure to Kon Ka Kinh National Park, Kon Chu Rang Nature Reserve belonging to the Kon Ha Nung Plateau World Biosphere Reserve (UNESCO heritage) are also invested, upgraded and expanded by the province.
Gia Lai Provincial People's Committee also assigned the Department of Construction to hire a consulting unit to organize a competition for the general planning idea of Bien Ho - Chu Dang Ya Tourist Area. When there is a planning idea, tourism development will be sustainable, commensurate with the potential and advantages of this national-level scenic spot.
Mr. Ho An Phong - Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism said that Gia Lai needs to create a different destination as well as a development space; each region must have its own core products, avoiding duplication and dispersion of resources. Upgrade accommodation facilities, apply digital technology, build a smart tourism ecosystem to enhance the tourist experience...
Gia Lai Provincial Party Secretary Thai Dai Ngoc committed that the province will continue to accelerate key infrastructure projects, expressways and connecting road systems, upgrade international airports... to serve tourism development.
