Southern Laos has won the top tourism destination 2016 award presented by the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), recognising the region as a top emerging tourist destination displaying a unique and diverse culture and heritage.
In addition to bringing more attention to Southern Laos through the prestige of winning the award, the region will be provided with a digital marketing campaign worth US$500,000 courtesy of TripAdvisor – putting the destination right in front of potential new visitors.
The award will be handed over during the Travel Mart Exhibition in London on November 7 and will further boost the region’s tourism potential, according to the Swisscontact Laos Office on Friday.
Looking to bring Southern Laos to the wider world and to increase income and employment opportunities for less advantaged people, Swisscontact, an independent Swiss based foundation for international development, started a tourism destination development project in 2013 encompassing interventions in the fields of skills development, marketing and promotion, product development and public-private destination management.
The PATA CEO Challenge award is one of the many fruits of a successful collaboration between the provincial Departments of Information, Culture and Tourism, provincial private sector associations and development partners.
Country Manager for Swisscontact in Laos, Tim Gamper, said “We are absolutely thrilled about this prestigious award for Southern Laos. While this is certainly a great re cognition for Swisscontact’s work in collaboration with its public and private sector partners, it is much more a well-deserved recognition for a so far undiscovered gem of a tourism destination, a place that offers real experiences which travellers will not forget.”
“We are confident that this award will serve as a great promoter not only for Southern Laos, but for the country of Laos as a whole,” Mr Gamper said.
With a wealth of natural, cultural and historical attractions, Southern Laos is an ideal destination for tourists searching for an enchanting and stimulating place that offers something that cannot be found anywhere else.
Whether enjoying the natural beauty of the maze of islands in Si Phan Don ( Si Phan Don means four thousand islands), trekking and zip-lining through dense jungle forest or exploring the UNESCO World Heritage temple complex of Vat Phou in Champassak province, the area delivers a tourist destination unlike any other.
Until very recently, however, Southern Laos was relatively undiscovered by all but the most adventurous of travellers. At the heart of the success of the PATA award is Swisscontact’s work with the travel and hotel branding specialists QUO, creating a fresh destination brand that reflects the region’s diversity, serenity, charm and relaxed approach to life.
A logo evoking the Lao alphabet’s circular forms with the image of a fisherman in a long-tail boat, along with the slogan ‘Charming by nature’, captures the region’s traditions and connection with nature.
An interactive and informative website (www.southern-laos.com) and an engaging video slide show (https://youtu.be/r5uqP-70BMY) help potential visitors explore the attractions on offer in the region.
— Source Swisscontact Laos Office
Source: Vientiane Times
