Vientiane hoping to attract more foreign visitors
Vientiane hoping to attract more foreign visitors
Vientiane plans to attract more foreign visitors to the city this year in a bid to boost revenue and economic development.
Some 1.8 million foreign visitors came last year generating income of around US$203 million but this figure is expected to increase by US$2 million this year, according to the Vientiane Planning and Investment Department.
Most visitors come from Asean countries entering via Wattay International Airport and the Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge lured by attractions such as That Luang, Lao National Museum, Vat Sisaket, Vat Simeuang, Vat Ongteu, Patuxay, Chao Anouvong Park, the Kaysone Phomvihane Museum and Nam Ngum Lake.
Accordingly, the number of guesthouses, entertainment venues, restaurants and hotels in Vientiane has been increasing, along w ith other visitor services.
In 2014, the total number of guesthouses, resorts, entertainment venues, restaurants and hotels in Vientiane s tood at 564 with this figure increasing last year.
Last year, the service sector in Vientiane grew by 10.08 percent to account for 37.56 percent of GDP and this year is expected to increase by 11 percent and account for 36 percent of GDP.
The travel sector, especially eco-tourism, offered economic benefits to local communities according to a report from the Tourism Research Division of the Tourism Development Department.
Greater emphasis has been placed on eco-tourism since 2009. As a result of eco-tourism, villages earn more income directly from tourists by selling food and homemade products as well as providing tourism-related services.
Tourism is major driver of the economy. According to a 2015 World Travel and Tourism Council report, tourism's total economic contribution was about 15 percent of total output (GDP), accounting for 13 percent of total employment.
The number of tourist arrivals last year was almost 4.7 million, bringing US$725 million in revenue, and this year Lao authorities plan to attract over 5 million people, generating income of US$800 million.
Many countries are focusing on the development and promotion of tourism, as a key sector for socio-economic development.
Tourism has directly generated foreign currency for Laos, and supported related investment such as hotels, restaurants, transport, and souvenir businesses.
It also creates employment for people in the service and production sectors, for instance, the export of raw materials, contributes foreign currency accumulations and facilitates domestic financial liquidity and distributes income to rural remote areas.
