Laos looking at 7 percent growth in tourist arrivals
Laos looking at 7 percent growth in tourist arrivals
Tourist arrivals are believed to have grown by 7 percent growth last fiscal year (2014-2015) thanks to better marketing and the promotion of tourist sites in Laos.
According to the latest report from the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the number of tourist arrivals in Laos reached 4.4 million last fiscal year, up from 4.1 million the previous year. This is attributed to campaigns to publicise Lao tourist attractions in targeted markets.
The ministry's tourism development report also states that income earned from tourism in fiscal year 2014-15 was US$672 million. The tourism sector is one of the top five foreign exchange earners in Laos.
The Ministry of Planning and Investment collects statistics from all ministries and state agencies so the government can create appropriate policies to boost the development of the sectors concerned.
An official in charge of tourism data said the figure cited in the government report was a projection. However, he was confident the number of tourist arrivals would meet the target thanks to more widespread marketing campaigns.
Mr Bounthavy Sisava also said there was nothing that should prevent Laos from meeting its tourism growth target, adding that the regional and world tourism situation were favourable for the growth of tourism in Laos.
“There have been no disease outbreaks or airport closures this year so I believe the number of tourist arrivals will meet the 4.4 million target,” he said.
He said officials had collected data on tourist arrivals over the first nine months of the 2014-2015 fiscal year, from all border crossings and international airports in Laos. The data shows that tourist arrivals are on track to reach the 4.4 million figure.
According to the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, the driving force of tourism growth in Laos is the increasing number of visitors from Thailand, Vietnam and China.
Mr Bounthavy, who is Deputy Director of the Tourism Research and Administrative Division, said the available data indicated a rapid growth in tourists from the Republic of Korea, and that the figures showed a more than 10 percent increase. In contrast, the number of tourists from Japan had fallen by about 2 percent.
The increase in tourist arrivals from Korea is the result of the start of direct flights between Vientiane and Seoul, which began a few years ago. Korean tourists like Laos because it is peaceful and they also like Lao culture and the warm and humid weather.
