Tourism aspiration in Attapeu

ATTAPEU Attapeu’s Department of Information, Culture and Tourism says attracting more tourists to the area offers the most practical way to improve the local economy.

But the department’s director, Bounnan Bounnaseng, told the Vientiane Times it would require a heavy investment to improve road access, which deters any efforts to promote tourism.

“We face a lot of challenges in attracting companies to develop tourist attractions…road access is the key for tourism development and Attapeu could have a role as a transit point for tourists visiting the region.”

“We need to learn from the provincial authorities in Champasak and Luang Prabang provinces on how to develop and promote tourism as these two provinces have successfully built up a flourishing tourism industry.”

The province is working with Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia to explore tourism routes in order to link visitor attractions and package tours, he said.

But it is a long-shot, Lao Airlines suspended flights between Vientiane and Attapeu due to a lack of demand. The airline cancelled the flights during the last quarter of 2016, after it became apparent the route would not reach breakeven any time soon.

Lao Airlines offered a twice-weekly service from Vientiane, via Pakse in Champasak province, to Attapeu province’s so-called international airport, last May, and increased frequency to three weekly services last July.

At best it carried no more than 10 passengers a flight, mainly local people and officials.

Attapeu International Airport was officially opened in May 2015. The airport was handed over to the Lao government by Vietnam’s Hoang Anh Gia Lai Group (HAGL), which funded construction through an interest-free loan of more than USD36.1 million.

Of the four southern provinces of Champasak, Saravan, Xekong and Attapeu, only Champasak and Attapeu have international designation for their airports.

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