Lao NEWS on LNTV: Tourism is one of the most sources of revenue for Laos.22/11/2016

VO Tourism is one of the most sources of revenue to boost economic growth in Laos INTRO: Tourism is one of the most sources of revenue to boost economic growth in Laos and the number of tourists has steadily increased over the past two decades, particularly tourists from the sub-Mekong region. STORY: According to the 2015 tourism statistics report of the Tourism Development Department, more than 4.6 million tourists visited Laos in 2015, an increase of over 14 percent when compared to 2014. There was also a sizeable increase in income from tourism, rising from more than US$641 million in 2014 to over US$725 million in 2015. Of that number (4.6 million tourists), the number of tourist arrivals from the four countries of Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam (CMTV) reached over 3.4 million people, which represented over 73 percent when compared to the total number of tourist arrivals to Laos. The report also showed that among CMTV countries, Thailand topped tourist arrivals with over 2.3 million visitors to Laos, followed by over 1.1 million tourists from Vietnam, over 20,000 people from Cambodia and more than 2,000 visitors from Myanmar. Laos is working hard in terms of tourism development and also cooperates with other countries in the world to improve and develop its tourism sector, especially CMTV countries, as they are also members of Asean. Laos, the current chair of Asean, has eight priorities for its Asean chairmanship and one of these falls under the tourism sector. By 2025, Asean will be a quality tourism destination offering a unique, diverse Asean experience, and will be committed to the responsible, sustainable, inclusive and balanced development of tourism so as to contribute significantly to the socio-economic well-being of the people of Asean countries. According to Deputy Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Savankhone Razmountry, For Laos, we will facilitate travel into and within the region, improve the capacity of tourism officials and service providers from the private sector Tourism sites in Laos have been classified into three categories; such as, natural, historical and cultural tourism. Based on the latest research, up to the present some 985 sites have been surveyed and identified. Meanwhile, 257 sites have been identified as cultural sites, 570 as natural sites and162 as historical sites. So far, only 364 sites out of 985 are currently developed for service. In Laos, there are many notable and charming sites that are nationally and internationally well-known as tourist hot-spots. For instance, historical sites include UNESCO world heritage sites including Luang Prabang province, officially listed in 1995 and Vat Phou in Champassak province listed in 2002. Meanwhile, the Plain for Jars (with its 334 jars) in Xieng Khuang province is expected to be designated the 3rd world heritage site of Laos. In regards to natural sites, the natural wonder of Khonephafeng Waterfall in Khong district of Champassak province has been recorded as the world's largest waterfall, according to the website of www.worldwaterfalldatabase.com. The World Waterfall Database lists the world's largest waterfalls by width and ranks Laos' natural wonder on top. The representative list contains those known to have an average width of at least 300 linear feet (91.44 metres) based on data available to the website. Regarding tourism infrastructure, the Lao PDR has four international airports situated in the country's main cities; namely Vientiane's Wattay as well as those in Luang Prabang, Savannakhet and C hampassak provinces. International flights are available via airlines based in CLMVT countries as well as domestic flights between the provinces. Furthermore, flights from Singapore, Malaysia, the Republic of Korea and China are also being operated regularly, which facilitate easier and more comfortable extra-regional linkages for travelers. Apart from air transportation, the Lao PDR has four so-called friendship bridges linked to improved road networks connecting to our neighbouring countries, particularly to the CLMVT countries as well as China. Eight international checkpoints connect Laos to Thailand, and another eight to Vietnam, along with one to Cambodia and another one with Myanmar as well as two with China. Hence, Laos is increasingly considered a hub for tourists especially those who enjoy traveling overland. Moreover, tourism strengthens the networks that also contribute to facilitating other flows of trade and investments including goods and cargo transportation services among these neighbouring countries. Most international checkpoints have entry-visa facilitation upon arrival. According to the latest statistical re port in 2015, some 89 percent of the total tourists arrivals to Laos (4,684,429 visitors) entered the country via land entry, compared to the remaining 11 percent by air.