Gia Lai seeks new direction for sustainable tourism

Ia Der pine forest, green lung leaves in the mountainous town of Pleiku

The pine forests near the urban area of Pleiku are being preserved and developed towards sustainable eco-tourism. In particular, pine forests in Ia Der commune, Ia Grai district - bordering Pleiku city - have become an attractive destination for tourists, especially during holidays and Tet.

Not only creating a cool green landscape, Ia Der pine forest also contributes to climate regulation and preserving the typical natural identity of the Gia Lai plateau.

Mr. Nguyen Tinh, a resident of Pleiku City, shared: Pine forest is a natural green area of the mountain town, planted for a long time. The plateau will be greener and more beautiful when there are forests, especially pine trees".

Previously, Pleiku had many ancient pine trees, but the urbanization process caused most of them to be cut down to make way for transport infrastructure. Therefore, Ia Der pine forest is now considered a remaining green symbol of the city.

Not only a familiar destination for local people, Ia Der pine forest also attracts tourists with its wild beauty and airy space.

Ms. Tran Thi Linh, a resident of Dak Doa district, commented: "Along with Chu Dang Ya volcano, wild sunflowers and Sea of Lake tea, Ia Der pine hill is still a favorite destination for young people".

However, this area still has many limitations. The road to the pine hill is degraded and dusty, while tourism services have not been developed synchronously, causing potential to not be fully exploited.

Orientation of sustainable tourism planning

In order to develop Ia Der pine forest into a sustainable tourist destination, the People's Committee of Gia Lai province has approved the planning project for a cultural - ecological tourism area in Ia Der commune ( Ia Grai district) and some wards of Pleiku city.

The plan has a total area of 135.69 hectares, focusing on key contents such as pine forest conservation, only relocating some trees to build cultural and service works with a construction density of less than 5%, and renovating the existing residential area with a construction density of no more than 40%.

People and tourists expect that when the project is implemented, Ia Der pine hill will not only become an attractive tourist destination but also contribute to preventing forest encroachment and encroachment on forestry land.

In addition to preserving pine forests, Gia Lai is also researching and developing tourism at Chu Nam mountain - one of the special sites in the area.

Recently, a working group consisting of leaders of the Provincial People's Committee, the Provincial People's Council, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the People's Committee of Chu Pah district organized a journey to conquer the mountain top for a field survey.

Chu Nam Mountain, located in Chu Pah District, about 30km north of Pleiku City, is 1,472m above sea level. From the top of the mountain, visitors can see the whole view of Pleiku city, Ham Rong peak, the intersection between National Highway 19 and National Highway 14, as well as Ia Ly hydroelectric lake - one of the largest hydroelectric projects in the Central Highlands.

After the survey, the working group will propose a plan to attract businesses to invest in this area, combining tourism exploitation with other attractions such as Chu Dang Ya volcano, Sea of Lake and Sea of Tea Lake, creating a chain of attractive destinations for tourists when coming to Gia Lai.

Preserving Ia Der pine forest and developing tourism at Chu Nam mountain not only contributes to protecting natural resources but also creates momentum to promote the tourism economy of the province. With a methodical planning orientation, Gia Lai is gradually building a green, sustainable tourism ecosystem with a strong identity in the Central Highlands.