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Lao Tourism Fosters Regional Ties
The Lao government has adopted a policy to develop and coordinate its tourist plans with neighboring countries in a bid to widen its international tourism markets, said Sannya Abhay, deputy director general of the National Tourism Authority of Laos (NTAL).
Especially during the last few years, NTAL has sought tourism cooperation agreements with neighboring countries including Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, China and even somewhat distant Singapore. In order for tourism to grow, NTAL realizes its limited human resource base coupled with modest budgets means it must work closely with regional NTAs to develop tourism products that promote tourism in the Mekong subregion in general.
"To focus solely on selling Laos would be difficult as Lao tourism is still too young," said Mr. Sannya, "and some Lao tourism products are not quite ready for exposure. At this stage, it is not enough to sell only Lao products. Laos is located in the middle of the region. We would not mind being used for passing through [to other destinations] as long as the country and our people gain benefits too."
Being landlocked in the middle of Indochina, Laos wants to promote overland travel between Thailand, Vietnam and China as a way to explore cultural and natural tourism in the region. Laos signed a tourism cooperation agreement with Thailand and Vietnam to develop tourism routes linking the countries. In accordance with these plans, several immigration-control points have been opened to facilitate land travel.
For example, four permanent checkpoints along the borders between Laos and Thailand and Laos and Vietnam are now open. They include Chiang Khong-Huay Xai, Mukdahan-Savannakhet, Vientiane-Nong Khai, and Savannakhet-Houng Hoa. Laos is also working on upgrading three more border checkpoints along Thai and Vietnamese boundaries, eventually making them permanent border entrances/exits. They include Lak Sao in Laos to Vinh in Vietnam, Nakhon Phanom in Thailand to Thakhek in Laos, Chong Mek (Ubon Ratchathani province) in Thailand to Champasak in Laos.
"By establishing permanent border checkpoints, people with passports can easily move between countries without having to return to their starting point," said Mr. Sannya. "Easing border formalities will not only encourage more international visitors to explore the countries through border travel; it will also boost regional travel by the citizens of Laos, Vietnam and Thailand."
NTAs of the above countries are surveying potential tourism routes which might easily integrate existing overland routes. The fact-finding mission, once summarized, will be turned over to local travel agents for marketing.
While awaiting the results of the intra-government study, the ambitious private sector has already gone ahead and sold overland tour packages linking Thailand, Laos and Vietnam. Although it's now possible to travel by road between all of these countries, proper infrastructure in Laos is just beginning to emerge.
In addition, NTAL is working to develop cooperation with its counterpart in Yunnan, China's southwestern province. Yunnan has long-shared centuries-old ethnic links with northern Laos and is just as landlocked as Laos, perhaps maybe even more so.
1999: Visit Laos Year
The Lao government intends designating 1999 as "Visit Laos Year." It would follow "Visit Myanmar Year," which is being held from October 1996 through September 1997. By that time, Laos and Cambodia will have joined Vietnam in the ASEAN community.
Such a national promotion would in all likelihood coincide with the building of a second bridge across the Mekong, this one entirely within Laos itself in Champasak province. The bridge would primarily benefit Pakse, a popular tourism center and burgeoning economic hub.
The Asian Development Bank forecasts that 30,000 tourists will visit Champasak annually by the year 2001, the main appeal being the splendid Khong falls on the border with Cambodia and the equally splendid Khmer-era ruins called Wat Phu.
Nippon Koei, the Japanese survey team assigned with selecting possible sites for the bridge, said basic designs being considered do not include a rail crossing. Moreover, the bridge would avoid religious and historical sites. A timetable for the construction of the bridge has not yet been announced.
Visa Experiment Pondered
In a move aimed at boosting international access to Laos, Lao Aviation and the National Tourism Authority of Laos want the Lao foreign ministry to relax entry regulations for passengers flying to Vientiane from Chiang Mai.
During a trial period, Lao Aviation passengers on flights from Chiang Mai to Vientiane may soon be able to obtain visas-on-arrival without first having to find sponsors on the Lao side.
If lighter entry regulations are approved, Thai and international travelers on this particular route would be given instant visas at Vientiane's Wattay airport.
Visitors could then stay in the Lao capital for up to three days. Those wanting to stay longer would need assistance from local travel agents and/or business partners to process visa extensions.
Arrivals in Laos Rise by 44 Percent
Tourist arrivals in Laos in 1995 exceeded 200,000 people for the first time annually, with the year-on-year increase registered at 44 percent.
Sannya Abhay, Deputy Director General, National Tourism Authority of Laos (NTAL), said the increase could be attributed to international marketing during the past two years.
NTAL recently participated in international travel shows held in Germany and France, leading to strong responses from European buyers.
"European buyers, especially French and German travel agents, are keen to sell Indochina. Therefore we received good feedback from these fairs," said Mr. Sannya.
In 1995, NTAL statistics show 210,181 visitor arrivals in Laos. France was the biggest market with 6,180 visitors, up 14.6% from 1994. Thailand was second with 5,253 arrivals, up 12.4%. It was followed by 5,153 US arrivals, up 12.17%. There were 3,792 Japanese arrivals, up 8.96%; 2,423 United Kingdom arrivals, up 5.72%; and 2,379 arrivals from Germany, up 5.62%.
Most arrivals occurred in February when 22,337 visitors passed through Laos. October was the second most popular month with 21,345 arrivals. Some 13,843 visitors made September the least popular month.
Regional tourists crossing the border to Laos increased significantly in 1995 and totaled 151,531. Thais registered 146,856 border-crossings while mainland Chinese visitors totaled 4,673. Mr. Sannya said visitor arrivals were expected to reach 250,000 by the end of this year.
1996 tourism strategies focus on the promotion of Laotian culture, overland routes linking Laos with Vietnam and Thailand, and Lao eco-tourism sites. However, eco-tourism development requires identifying primary areas of interest and devising comprehensive development plans, said Mr. Sannya. Training tourism professionals and identifying local staff to support such professionals are critical components of ensuring sustainable tourism, he said.
Southern Champasak province will likely be the site of the first eco-tourism project, Mr. Sannya added. The government will apparently seek to implement such ecologically-sensitive schemes through joint ventures with private-sector investors. "We will develop eco-terrorism on a small scale at first," said Mr. Sannya. "Ideally, we want to create tourist activities such as trekking and elephant riding."