More than three million tourists visited Laos last year, up 14 per cent from the year before, media reported last week. The country now hopes to take full benefits of hosting the ASEAN Travel Forum in ten days time.
VIENTIANE- Three million. Or more exactly 3.11 million visit arrivals have been recorded last year, setting a new record in the history of Laos tourism. The celebration of the conclusion of the Visit Laos Year 2012 was held at the National Culture Hall where Deputy Prime Minister Asang Laoly briefed thousands of participants who gather last week not only to celebrate the Visit Laos Year 2012 but also to rejoice the countdown of New Year 2013.
Also present at the function were the Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Bosengkham Vongdara, and his deputies Bouangeun Saphouvong, Savankhone Razmountry, and Chaleun Valinthalasack.
The number of visit arrivals recorded in 2012 increased by 14 per cent as compared to 2011 generating USD 451 million from the industry, according to Deputy Prime Minister Asang Laoly. Visitors from neighbouring China led the influx with 190,000 arrivals in 2012, up 26 per cent from 2011, the Vientiane Times reported.
The number of South Korean tourists jumped 46 per cent to 50,000, the state-run daily said. Overall, the Asia-Pacific region accounted for 2.8 million of the foreign tourists last year, a jump of 17 per cent.
Laos has launched two editions of Visit Laos Year, the first one in 1999-2000 and the last one in 2011-2012. The country is now putting all its hopes into the coming hosting of ATF (Asean Travel Forum) scheduled from January 18 to 24 in the capital Vientiane.
General Director of Tourist Advertisement under the authority of Lao Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Saly Phimphinith said: “The forthcoming ATF was preparing many fields including the Senior Official Meeting, ASEAN Tourism Ministerial, meeting of ASEAN National Tourism Organisations (NTOs)+3 China, RoK and Japan, ASEAN NTOs + India and ASEAN NTOs+ Russia. “The National Sub-Committee of Responsible for Contents has also coordinated with ASEAN Secretariat prepared the documents and other content for the two levels of meeting.
We have also prepared meetings of ASEAN Tourist Association, ASEAN Hotel-Restaurant Business, ASEAN Airline Association and symposium on ASEAN tourism promotion”, added Mr Phimpinith.
A special event that will be held in conjonction with the ATF will be a tourist trade fair displayed by 10 ASEAN member countries at the Lao-ITECC. Nearly 500 booths have already been booked, exceeding original targets set by the Ministry.
Laos has already invited about 400 tour companies, a tourist market of Laos, non-ASEAN member countries to purchase the ASEAN tourism list. The country also invited mass media on tourism from 100 news agencies worldwide to observe the existing outstanding tourism places in Laos and other favourable facility.
More than 20 hotel are expected to draw up to 600 delegates to attend the event. The Economics and Financial Sub-Committee has already proposed a budget cost 20.8 billion kip for organizing the ATF, Mr. Saly added.
Laos, one of the world’s last Communist countries, has focused on developing hydropower and tourism as its two main engines of economic growth.
(Partial sources from DPA)
Luc Citrinot a French national is a freelance journalist and consultant in tourism and air transport with over 20 years experience. Based in Paris and Bangkok, he works for various travel and air transport trade publications in Europe and Asia.
