Floating restaurant owner eyes increase in foreign diners
Floating restaurant owner eyes increase in foreign diners
Ounkham Floating Restaurant, which serves up both food and entertainment on the Ngum River at Thangone village in Xaythany district, Vientiane, is doing good business and expects a 20 percent increase in customers next year.
The floating restaurants that line the river's edge make this bucolic spot a top favourite and draw several hundred domestic and international customers every day.
Re staurant owner Mr Ounkham Kittisack told Vientiane Times recently that about 70 percent of his customers are tourists from the Republic of Korea and Thailand, while the rest are local people.
“Last Nove mber we had more than 3,000 guests from the Republic of Korea. That averaged out at 100 people a day so we were kept very busy,” he said.
The restaurant has no official contract with any tour operators but is well known to local tourist guides and the special offers it provides guests is an incentive.
“Improvements are an important priority for us so that we have plenty of space for our guests to host a big party. Our expansion plans will take shape next year,” Mr Ounkham said.
He plans to expand the large restaurant so it can accommodate up to 100 to 200 guests.
When the service sector is directly linked to tourism, improvements to food options, hygiene, accommodation and transport are key factors in attracting m ore foreign visitors, he pointed out.
Ounkham Floating Restaurant is one of three privately-run restaurant operations along the Nam Ngum River near the Thangone Bridge that caters to both domestic and overseas guests. It comprises nine smaller flat-bottomed, open-sided boa ts and one large restaurant.
As part of his special services, Mr Ounkham said he offers customers who choose to take one of the smaller boats on a trip along the river a 40 minute excursion free of charge. If karaoke is included they will be charged just 100,000 kip per hour.
Food prices range from 10,000 kip to 120,000 kip per item. Most of the dishes on offer feature fresh fish bought from local fishermen.
While it is clear that largely rural Xaythany has the potential for larger farming operations, development of the service sector is another option that few have considered. The local authorities would do well to assess the district's hidden gems and promote the area as a tourist attraction.
“It would be a great idea for the local authorities to encourage villagers to grow marigolds along the Ngum River. That would give the district a special identity so that we could stand out from other districts in Vientiane,” Mr Ounkham said.
He explained that marigold growers could make an income from selling the flowers because they fetch a good price and are frequently used for religious ceremonies.
