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Laos Sees 10 Percent Drop in Foreign Tourist Numbers

Foreign Tourists to Laos Down by 10 Percent

While Lao Nationals hit an all time high for travelling abroad in 2016, as previously reported by The Laotian Times, the number of foreign visitors entering Laos has dwindled after several consecutive years of visitor growth.

According to statistics provided by the Tourism Development Department of the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, Laos reported an average annual growth in foreign tourist arrivals of 10.7 percent over the past five years. However,  in 2016 just over 4.23 million foreign visitors came to the country – a drop of 10 percent since 2015,

Collectively, visitors from the other nine ASEAN member countries dropped by an estimated 14 percent to 3 million people. Tourists from the Asia Pacific region dropped by 11 percent to  about 3.9 million people, and visitors from the Americas dropped by 3 percent to just 86,211 people.

Though the number of tourists from some regions have increased, it is marginal compared to how many visitors the country has lost overall. Visitors from Europe, and Africa and the Middle East, increased by 2 percent and 6 percent last year to 221,952 people and 11,263 people respectively.

Travellers from Thailand and Vietnam, the majority of foreign visitors to Laos, dropped significantly to just over 500,000 visitors.

An official gave several potential reasons for the decline of visitors to the country, explaining that Thailand has been encouraging their citizens to take tours in their own homeland by offering special promotions and incentives.

This includes granting Thai nationals the ability to claim a reduction on their personal income tax, equivalent to what they spent while on holiday if they spend it within the country.

Additionally, the number of foreign tourists entering Laos in previous years was boosted by Vietnamese workers entering the country on tourist visas and finding work illegally.

However, governments within ASEAN, including Laos, have been strictly enforcing measures to regulate foreign workers, which is speculated to have deterred Vietnamese workers from entering Laos, thus reflecting a decrease in the number of Vietnamese in Laos on tourist visas.

The official also brought up that the cost of living in Laos has increased and could also be a contributing factor for the vast reduction in visitors. Living costs in neighbouring countries, for example, Thailand are significantly lower than in Laos.

The official suggested that Laos should attempt to put more effort into attracting tourists from Muslim countries. By providing prayer rooms in public places along with promoting halal restaurants the country would be more welcoming to Muslim visitors if such facilities were provided, especially in the provinces.

Statistics indicate that visitors from Muslim-majority countries like Brunei and Indonesia have dropped by 44 percent and 17 percent to just 484 and 5,010 visitors respectively in 2016.

It is urged for Lao tourist authorities to do more to promote tourism in the country, starting with an official comprehensive website where all tourism-related information can be obtained. The website should include tourist attractions, transportation, accommodation, a calendar that indicates when and where a cultural festival will take place and any other related costs visitors should anticipate.

It was added that  the Tourism Development Department is requesting insight from other departments regarding the decline in tourist entries in order to identify common grounds and take steps to remedy the situation.

Tour facilitators have expressed that a lack of tourist activities, underdeveloped facilities at tourist sites, and the absence of direct flights to many countries seemingly discourage tourists and are factors that need to be addressed.

A Whopping 9000 Newly Registered Vehicles in Only Two Months

9000 new vehicles in vientiane

Thanks to the stimulated economy and continuing socio-economic development in Laos, reports show that in the first two months of 2017, approximately 9000 vehicles have been  newly registered.

The Vientiane Public Works and Transport Department disclosed that just in January and February alone, there were 8,972 newly registered vehicles, bringing the number of newly registered vehicles in Vientiane Capital to 807,991 units since 2000.

Newly registered vehicles this year contain 5,642 motorcycles, 808 sedans, 483 pick-up trucks, 489 jeeps, 119 vans, 406 heavy trucks and 25 buses.

A total 0f 69,000 newly registered vehicles was reported for 2016.

It is speculated by the authorities in the department that the purchasing volume of vehicles has increased due to the boost of civil servant’s’ monthly salaries.

As a result, the influx of vehicles has heavily contributed to traffic congestion and road accidents within the city of Vientiane.  Last year, more than 1,000 road accidents were reported nationwide.

Lucky Draw for Bangkok Airways Dated 11/03/2017

This Facebook link thumbnail image template was created by Christian Karasiewicz, owner of www.christiankonline.com

Last month, the month of Love, Express Food Group Co, a the subsidiary of RMA Group offered a special campaign for customers of The Pizza Company, Swensen’s and Dairy Queen at all store branches  to win one of three special prizes: a trip to Phuket, and two round-trip tickets from Vientiane-Bangkok, generously provided by Bangkok Airways.

All clients from February were eligible to receive a coupon to participate in this campaign and all of the coupons were drawn in order to find the winners on 11 March 2017 at the Pizza Company at Vientiane Centre. The event was attended by Mr Korbsouk who was a representative from Bangkok Airways, Mr Matthieu Hotel) who is the General Manager of Express Food Group, Ms Monemany Sopha, a marketer of Express Food Group.

The lucky winners were

  1. Ms Sengaloun Soundala residing at Phonepapao Village. Mob: 7712 1488
  2. Mr Daosavath Dethphommathed residing at Phonethun Village. Mob: 020 98066662
  3. Mr Phetsana Souvannaphong residing at Phonethun Village]

 

Bangkok Air Bangkok Air 1 Bangkok Airway 4

Please follow us on The Pizza Company Laos, Swensen’s Laos, Dairy Queen Laos, Texas Chicken Laos Facebook pages. We offer special campaigns every month. So, don’t miss out!

Vientiane Sustainable Urban Transport Project Underway

transport vientiane

Vientiane is tackling the issue of its over crowded and congested streets by focusing on improving non-motorised transport and public transport in the city.

While speaking to the Intergovernmental Tenth Regional Environmentally Sustainable Transport (EST) Forum in Asia at a meeting on Tuesday, Vientiane Vice Mayor Mr Keophilavanh Aphaylath explained that the project will encourage people within the city to use more sustainable modes of transportation.

The Vice Mayor acknowledged that the rapidly growing number of motorised vehicles has brought new challenges to the city and that the influx of cars and motorbikes has caused congestion, air pollution, accidents and rampant parking intrusions.

With regard to sustainable transport initiatives, Laos has participated in the UNCRD‘s Initiative on Environmentally Sustainable Transport and joined the EST Forum.

The Minister of Public Works and Transport,  Dr Bounchanh Sinthavong has stated that the city has completed a number of significant studies, particularly the Vientiane Urban Transport Master Plan in 2008, the Study on Low Carbon Transport System in Laos in 2012, Ongoing Green Freight Transport and many others.

During the ASEAN Summits, hosted by Laos as the Chair of ASEAN last year, Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith delivered the Laos Paris Agreement ratification instrument to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

The Intended Nationally Determined Contribution for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions was implemented with the assistance of a new project funded by the Global Environment Facility in partnership with UNDP and the Department of Disaster Management and Climate Change.

“Besides these studies, we have been implementing many EST projects, such as a new system to improve bus services and piloting electric buses in the capitals of Luang Prabang and Champassak provinces,” Dr Bounchanh explained.

It was added, that almost US$100 million was secured, co-financed by the Asian Development Bank, OPEC Fund for International Development, European Investment Bank, European Union, Global Environmental Facility, the private sector and the Lao government to implement the alleged Vientiane Sustainable Urban Transport Project.

The project will drastically improve urban transport operations and capacity in Vientiane through five major components: bus rapid transport, parking facilities, non-motorised transit, traffic management, and urban transit management agency.

The forum is expected to provide valuable opportunities, insight and technological knowledge towards the effectiveness and sustainability from other cities on urban transport.

Statistics Show Lao People Traveling More Than Ever Before

Lao People Traveling More

In 2016, Laos reported that an astonishing 3.05 million outbound travelers crossed its borders to other countries.

According to statistics presented by the Tourism Development Department at the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, the number of Lao nationals traveling by plane was at a record high in 2016 compared to previous years.

Wattay International Airport reported 81,800 outbound Lao nationals in 2016, slightly up from 81,064 people and 76,985 people in 2015 and 2014 respectively.

More than 1.46 million people were recorded leaving the country via the Laos-Thailand Friendship Bridge.

However, according to the department, information regarding the travelers’ spending and length of stay has not been obtained due to funding shortages.

The statistics were collected from 14 international checkpoints across the country and indicate that those Lao provinces sharing borders with Thailand have registered the highest numbers of people crossing their checkpoints when travelling abroad.

The statistics did not specify the destinations of the travelers, however.

Lao officials and tour operators speculate that it is due to the Lao people’s well-being and  increasing incomes that has enabled them to indulge in more vacations abroad.

The government report showed that average gross domestic product (GDP) per capita has increased to US$2,027 (more than 16.2 million kip) in the 2015-2016 fiscal year. The figure is expected to further rise to US$2,341 (more than 18.7 million kip) by 2017.

GDP per capita is projected to reach US$3,100 (more than 24.8 million kip) in 2020 when the Lao population is expected to increase to 7.3 million. In turn the Gross National Income (GNI) per capita is predicted to reach US$2,450 (more than 19.6 million kip).

A local tour agency has shared that package tours to South Korea, Malaysia-Singapore-Indonesia, and Japan have been popular destinations for Lao outbound tourists, and they are customizing more packages for their clientele every day.

Switzerland Revives Agriculture and Forestry College in Laos

Laos sets goal for 70 percent forest cover by 2025

The Swiss government has granted US$4.2 million for the third phase of the Support to the Reform of the Agriculture and Forestry Colleges (SURAFCO) project in Laos.

The objective of SURAFCO is to reinforce the quality and practical teaching in all five Agriculture and Forestry Colleges of Laos. The program is set to run from 2017 to 2020.

The technical support to accomplish the project is provided by HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation and will focus on improving skills-based education, management of the colleges, campus infrastructure, updating teaching equipment, facilitating knowledge distribution and exchange events.

An agreement was signed on Monday by Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Dr Phouangparisak Pravongviengkham and Director of Cooperation for the Mekong Region of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Mr Tim Enderlin.

The renewed funding assists in the development of proficient human resources required to promote the modernisation of the agricultural and forestry sector in Laos.

The donation to the Reform Strategy of the Government of Laos will boost the number of qualified agricultural and extension workers in the public sector, employees in the private sector, self-employed farmers and entrepreneurs who can accompany the transition from subsistence-based to market-based agriculture.

The project has allowed the country to advance towards a commercial based agriculture system and provides the quality of human resources required by the public and private agricultural sectors.

The SURAFCO project has transformed the Northern Agriculture and Forestry College in Luang Prabang province into a centre of excellence for relevant upland agriculture education.

The five Agriculture and Forestry Colleges nationwide have benefited from the experience and are utilizing the same skills-based and student-centred curriculum. The nationally revised curriculum consists of 60 percent practical teaching and 40 percent theory to qualify for a higher diploma.

Within 2 years of graduating, 80 percent of graduates from the first two project phases between 2009 and 2016, had successfully found employment or were self-employed. Feedback from the public and private sector employers reveal that the education is seen as relevant and that graduates are capable of sufficiently applying what they’ve learned to their trade.

Mr Enderlin stated that  SURAFCO project responded to the needs of destitute rural communities and contributed to the country’s efforts to reduce poverty.

Authorities Order Closure of 253 Furniture Factories in Savannakhet

Laotian Times Illegal Furniture Factories in Savannakhet

During the cabinet monthly meeting for February, the Task Force Committee that was assembled by the cabinet, was instructed to continue carrying out the government’s order to regulate wood processing businesses across the country, and to address unlawful business operations and illegal logging.

An order directing district officials to take action was recently issued by authorities to ensure the closure of all furniture factories will be complete by the scheduled deadline.

253 family-owned furniture plants have been ordered to shut down indefinitely by Savannakhet provincial authorities, several operating without business licenses, while  the remainder fail to meet set standards.

Director of the Industry and Commerce Department of the central province Mr Sithon Nanthalath, reported that an estimated 166 plants are in violation of operating a business without the proper licenses; while the 87 remaining plants that were approved by districts’ authorities failed to meet the standard requirements.

“District officials in charge are required to report progress [in this regard] every Wednesday,” Mr Sithon stated, adding that the reports would then be passed on to higher authorities.

The director stressed that these plants will be shut down and the owners will not be eligible to register or legalise their businesses.

In its effort to regulate wood processing businesses and address illegal logging, the government has seized large quantities of timber logged illegally.

Recently, the department carried out a bidding process to auction off more than 716 cubic metres of seized timber, fetching more than 1.3 billion kip.

Numerous pieces of equipment that were used to illegally harvest timber, particularly chainsaws, have been seized and destroyed.

The province’s most recent demonstration of enforcing this law, is executing the government’s order to shut down 1,154 family furniture plants across the country that are in illegal operation.

The government has also ordered 28 sawmills to cease operations, which are located in conservation forest areas violating the relevant laws. Of those, 12 have already been shut down and the 16 remaining sawmills will continued to be eliminated by the province authorities.

The taskforce committee was reminded to thoroughly investigate and identify parties engaged in the unlawful harvesting and exporting of timber, as well as those affiliated with these illicit crimes, with the intention to bring the criminals to justice.

 

Lao Airlines to Reboot Inflight Magazine, Open for Advertising

Official Inflight Magazine of Lao Airlines
Official Inflight Magazine of Lao Airlines

The Lao Airlines inflight magazine, Champa Meuanglao, is to undergo a drastic change as part of a reboot that will showcase a modern and sophisticated Laos.

Production of the inflight magazine has been awarded to SMP Consultants, in partnership with RDK Group. The two companies will draw on their experience in business consulting, media and publishing to breathe new life into the magazine for the benefit of passengers on Lao Airlines flights.

With a newly designed logo, the revamped, bi-monthly publication will, like its parent airline, reflect an evolving Laos, showcasing the country’s arts and culture scene, world-famous cuisine and enduring popularity as a travel destination.

Lao Airlines Magazine Champa Meuanglao

Champa Meuanglao, the Lao Airlines magazine, will also focus on business innovation and the rapid development of Vientiane as a commercial hub in the region.

In addition to the editorial content, readers have come to rely on the advertisements in the magazine as an easy, time-efficient way to find about products and services in Laos and in the destination countries to which Lao Airlines flights travel. In a peaceful, serene environment such as an aeroplane seat, adverts stand the best possible chance for recall.

Champa Meuanglao Magazine is the nation’s prime vehicle for getting an advertiser’s message in front of the people that matter.

The benefits that advertisers can expect include:

–        a captive audience of over 900,000 passengers a year

–        distribution to hotels and ticketing offices throughout the country and in the region

–        a two-month shelf life making it more cost-effective than daily or weekly advertising vehicles

–        quality advertising production

–        ad sizes and styles to meet various budgets

For more information, contact the sales department at advertising@champameuanglao.com or by phone at  +85620 55555521, ,+856 20 55285580, or  +85620 55731717.