Tourism : an economic driving force

Tourism brings huge revenues to the country and generates income for Lao people. In this new era, the country needs to create conducive environment to transform itself into a unique tourist destination, promote group travel and systematically improve businesses related to ecotourism, cultural and historical tourism in the country as well as enhance the investment and cooperation with foreign countries and integrate Laos into regional and international tourism market.

The country also needs to pay attention to the management of human resources in tourism sector through enhancing their capacity building to ensure their services and hospitality to meet international standards.Realising the significance of tourism, the Party and government have developed a policy on tourism which indicates that the government centrally and sustainably manages the protection, reservation and development of resources of cultural, historical and natural tourism with an appropriate community participation.

The government considers tourism essential for the boosting of production, services, foreign exchange, job creation, revenues collection and improved living condition of the ethnic Lao people.The government promotes the dissemination of activities, festivities, festivals which portray national culture, tradition and courage of the Lao ethnic people to promote tourism market in the country and attract more foreign visitors.

The government protects and ensures rights and interest of foreign visitors and creates conducive condition for foreign investors and companies that invest in tourism market. It enhances cooperation on tourism with international community to promote the exchange of lessons and information on tourism, capacity building of human resources in tourism sector, mobilises assistance and promotes investment in tourism sector.

The government advertises tourism in the country to attract more investment in developing tourism market in Laos as the country is in the heart of the sub-region and has tourism potentials. Laos now has two world heritage sites: Luang Prabang city and Vat Phou in the southernmost province of Champassak.

The UK-based global travel magazine Wanderlust ranked Luang Prabang the top of the most popular tourist destinations in the world in 2010. Besides these world heritage sites, the Lao PDR also has several national, provincial and district tourist sites including the Plain of Jars in Xiengkhouang province, Khone Phapheng Waterfall in Champassak province, That Luang in Vientiane Capital, and Phousi stupa in Luang Prabang province, among others.

All these prove that Laos is one of the most popular destinations for visitors. Over the last one year, the visit to the country by over one million tourists has generated income for Lao people and the country. There is no doubt tourism is an economic driving force of the Lao PDR.

Source = laovoices