Limelight in Gia Lai Tourism

The Culture, Sports and Tourism Sector of Gia Lai province completed its working plan set for 2019. Tourism came into the limelight with quite high growth.

To fully unlock tourism potential and complete all its targets, in 2019, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Gia Lai province adopted many solutions. Accordingly, the department advised the Provincial People’s Committee to submit to the Provincial People’s Council for promulgation the Resolution 108/2019/NQ-HDND on support policies on tourism investment, tourism promotion and community tourism development in Gia Lai. It consulted the Provincial People’s Committee to issue the Gia Lai tourism development plan in 2019 and tourism development plans for An Khe, Dak Po, Kbang, and Kong Chro in 2019-2023.

The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism changed forms, contents and methods of tourism investment promotion and tourism marketing. The department collaborated with the Department of Planning and Investment and related sectors to appeal to investors to survey and establish investment projects such as Bien Ho - Chu Dang Ya, Dak Doa Golf Course, Ia Dre Pine Cultural Tourism Area (FLC Group Joint Stock Company), Vinsat Service Complex (Vingroup), and Ia Ly Resort (Ia Ly Construction and Tourism Service Joint Stock Company).

The department hosted a conference to introduce tourism products of Gia Lai province to tour operators and Vietnam Community Tourism Association (VCTC), held a tourism investment promotion conference; promoted Gia Lai tourism at Vietnam International Travel Fair (VITM) and Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Festival.

In addition, the department organized training courses and conferences to raise awareness of all levels, branches and localities. The sector also focused on fostering and guiding districts, towns and cities to develop community tourism plans; propagandized and raised public awareness in 15 villages of community tourism in some districts and towns to lay the stepping stone for community tourism.

The department assisted localities to maintain, improve tourism quality and promote cultural events to attract visitors and tourists.

Accommodation facilities paid much attention to infrastructure investment and professional training for workers to meet increasing tourist demand. By October 31, 2019, the province had 92 accommodation establishments, with 2,324 rooms, including 63 1-4 star hotels - accounting for 68.5%, and had 10 travel businesses, including three international travel companies and seven domestic travel businesses.

The tourism sector performed well in 2019. Tourist arrivals to Gia Lai were estimated at 845,000, an increase of 25.5% over 2018, including 830,000 domestic tourists, up 25.9% year on year. Compared to 2018, international tourist arrivals rose 7.6% to 15,000. Total tourism revenue reached VND510 billion, up 22% year on year.

Striving for 970,000 visitors in 2020

The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism is effectively carrying out Program 43-CTr/TU dated June 26, 2017 of the Standing Board of the Provincial Party Committee on implementation of Resolution 08-NQ/TW dated January 16, 2017 of the Politburo which aimed to develop tourism into a key economic sector, and the Gia Lai tourism development plan in 2017-2020.

The department will improve professional knowledge for tourism workers by launching tourism contests and training courses (improving skills, updating knowledge for tour guides; training on operation of small accommodation facilities; and training event skills for district, town and city officials.)

It will boost tourism communication and promotion on mass media; build plans for Gia Lai culture, food, nature and people discoveries broadcast with famous YouTubers; release guidelines for logo and slogan use: building an identification system; and introducing Gia Lai tourism products in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism will conduct a market survey to work out a plan to woo visitors to Gia Lai. Localities maintain and improve the quality of professional cultural and tourist events, ensure diverse and rich contents to attract tourists.

In 2020, tourist arrivals to Gia Lai are expected to rise 15% from a year earlier to 970,000, including 17,000 international visitors, up 13% year on year, and 953,000 domestic visitors, up 15% over 2019. Tourism revenue will grow by 18% to VND600 billion.