Opportunities abound for handmade Lao souvenirs
Opportunities abound for handmade Lao souvenirs
There are additional opportunities for local craftspeople to sell handmade souvenirs to tourists but they need to supply products that meet market demand, according to a Vientiane retailer.
Owner of the Jansouk souvenir shop on Chao Anou Road, Ms Kheuavanh Phanthaboun, made the comment on potential sales growth in the sector given the increasing number of tourists visiting Laos each year.
According to a report from the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism's Department of Tourism Development, about 4.1 million tourists were expected in Laos in 2016.
The government has projected 5 million foreign visitors for this year, 5.3 million in 2018, 5.7 million for 2019, around 6 million in 2020, and 8.1 million in 2025.
Ms Kheuavanh was talking up the sector's prospects based on personal e xperience. Since opening a small souvenir shop two months ago to test the market she has witnessed a growing demand for souvenirs, especially quality mementos.
With the market growth, she and her sister moved to a larger shop where they sell 90 percent quality, locally handmade souvenirs, while the other 10 percent of their stock is imported.
But Ms Kheuavanh said it was a challenge dealing with local craftspeople and their ability to supply large orders.
This var ies from neighbouring countries that have large souvenir markets and their producers are geared up to supply larger quantities.
In contrast, Lao producers make good quality items, but their prices are rather higher than some of the imported items, she said.
Ms K heuavanh is presently working with disabled people and local handicraft makers in several provinces aiming to support them so they can have sustainable incomes and conserve their handmade skills.
She said there were many shops selling souvenirs in Vientiane, but some items were poor quality and not attractive, so she was trying to stand o ut by creating a sustainable market for good quality, handmade items.
Officials in the sector said 80 percent of Lao people live in rural areas and are involved in handicraft related production, so if they could produce and design more appealing products, particularly by employing value adding techniques, this would attract greater buyer interest.