The Gia Lai provincial government is undertaking a significant urban planning initiative aimed at expanding Pleiku's urban space. This expansion is designed to synchronize transportation and tourism infrastructure, facilitating economic and social development in the region.

According to the Gia Lai Provincial Planning for the period 2021-2030, with a vision extending to 2050, the development of Gia Lai's urban system will follow a multi-center, multi-tiered network model. This model is closely linked to growth poles, sub-regional urban areas, economic corridors, and urban clusters.

By 2030, the urban system in Gia Lai is expected to include several urban areas categorized as type II and type III, with Pleiku designated as the western center of the province. Other key urban areas include Quy Nhơn, which will be the central administrative and political hub, and Hoài Nhơn and An Khê, which will serve as growth poles in the northeast and sub-regional centers, respectively.

The provincial government aims for a sustainable and rapid development trajectory, targeting a growth rate of 10.5% per year, with a per capita GRDP of $5,900 to $6,000. The budget revenue is projected to exceed 41 trillion VND, alongside an anticipated influx of 18.5 million tourists.

Pham Anh Tuan, Chairman of the Gia Lai People's Committee, emphasized the need for local wards and communes in Pleiku to view this area as a unified economic and social development space, fostering organic connections and mutual support. Alongside Quy Nhơn, the newly developed Pleiku city will act as a catalyst for the entire region, shaping a modern, livable mountain city that leverages strengths in commerce, services, tourism, and recreation.

Furthermore, the Gia Lai Department of Construction is currently organizing the master plan for the expanded Pleiku urban area, which will integrate the National Tourism Area of Biển Hồ - Chư Đang Ya. The previous separate planning for this tourism area has been halted to ensure a cohesive approach to urban development.

This integrated planning will encompass aspects of spatial development, tourism, technical infrastructure, and environmental protection for the Biển Hồ - Chư Đang Ya area, ensuring a consistent and coordinated planning system.

The provincial leadership has confirmed its commitment to hiring foreign consultants to collaborate with local experts in developing this plan, focusing on the tourism area's growth while laying the groundwork for future investments and tourism projects.

Gia Lai officials recognize Biển Hồ - Chư Đang Ya as a rare and valuable landscape, emphasizing that the planning must harmonize conservation efforts with development, while also investing in transportation infrastructure and expanding protected scenic areas for sustainable growth.