Khong district sees growth in tourism income
Khong district sees growth in tourism income
Khong district in Champassak province expects to earn an income of 75 billion kip from tourism this year after the industry increased by 15 percent in the first six months compared to the same period last year.
There has been a general increase in the number of tourists to the district this year, mainly coming from the neighbouring countries of Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand.
According to Khong District Governor Mr Sanan Siphaphommachanh yesterday, the tourism companies had increased their tours and expenditure in the district, which had been growing year by year, with the result that the income for the first of nine months of the fiscal year was at 60 billion kip.
Mr Sanan explained that Khong district was well-known for its ecology and nature activities, its beautiful islands and as a place for relaxing by the river, which had helped to drive up tourism over the past five years.
The district has recently started to encourage the tour companies, guesthouses and local people to work together, aimed at increasing convenience for tourists to travel to the islands in Done Det and Done Khone.
Local tour agents have also connected with tour companies in Vientiane and with neighbouring countries which has helped to attract more visitors as can be seen by the steady increase in guesthouse bookings.
The district is now working on other improvements such as infrastructure development to attract more tourists from Europe and Asia, especially the other Asean countries.
They will continue to improve the standard of service in guesthouses and restaurants to meet the needs of international visitors and will focus on developing tourism activities to provide many different activities for visitors to enjoy.
The Khonphapheng area in Khong District has recently come under a proposal to be developed into a modern tourism location, with the aim of attracting more tourists and investors.
Khonphapheng has allocated an area of 7,000 hectares for the development of a special economic zone, of which 2,300 hectares has been earmarked for urban development.
It will be a place for attracting foreign and domestic investment in the fields of tourism, trade, services and transportation.
The development is in line with a policy of special economic zones which focuses on development of the area as a city in rural surroundings.
vientiane times
