By using a pump recycling configuration, the maximum power of 8.1 W in the wavelength range 1.935-1.938 μm is generated by a 5-mm long Tm:YAlO3 (4 at.%) laser operating at 18°C with a pump power of 24 W. The highest slope efficiency of 42% is attained, and the pump quantum efficiency is up to 100%. The Tm:YAlO3 laser is employed as a pumping source of singly-doped Ho(1%):GdVO4 laser operating at room temperature, in which continuous wave output power of greater than 0.2 W at 2.05 μm is achieved with a slope efficiency of 9%.