The Dansavanh Nam Ngum Resort in Vientiane province is staging a festival next month to promote tourism in the province, along with four other central provinces and Vientiane.
Tourism officials from Xaysomboun, Borikhamxay, Khammuan, and Savannakhet provinces will join with officials from the host province and Vientiane at the event to adopt a strategic plan on tourism development for these areas over the next four years.
Vientiane province Deputy Governor and President of the organising committee, Mr Bounsone Phetlavanh, gave a press conference last Friday on preparations for the festival.
Tourism products, services and destinations will be on display at the event alongside meetings and entertainment activities. The festival will run from December 10 to 16.
Officials will discuss the outcome of a tourism link between the provinces and share their experiences of tourism development. The talks are aimed at developing a tourism chain that facilitates the growth of other sectors such as tourism-related commercial production.
According to the deputy governor, who referred to 2015 statistics, the five provinces and Vientiane combined have more than 1,000 hotels and guesthouses and 602 officially designated tourist sites, and received more than 4 million visitors last year.
In Vientiane the most popular attractions are That Luang, Hor Phakeo, Vat Sisaket Museum and Patouxay, while Xaysomboun listed Phu Bia, Chao Anouvong Cave and the Nam Ngum 2 reservoir, and Borikhamxay province boasts the Phabath Phonsanh, Dansoung temple, Tad Xay and Tad Leuk.
Khammuan province is noted for the Tham Konglor cave and the river that flows through it, while Savannakhet province has the revered That Inghang and the Dong Natad Protected Area.
More than 400,000 people visited Vientiane province in the past nine months, generating 148 billion kip, with Vangvieng the most popular destination.
The festival will also feature a food fair, beauty contest, singing contest, boat races, traditional sports and an exhibition of agricultural produce and handicrafts.
Source: Vientiane Times
