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(KPL) Laos will allow tourists entering the country via a group package from a Lao tour company to travel around the country.
According to Lao Tourist Police Department Deputy Director Lieutenant Colonel Lathavy Sommixay, tour operators and the National Tourism Administration had requested that police ease travel for tourists, the Vientiane Times reported on Mar 4.
Lt. Col Lathavy said that it has been government policy for several years to allow Lao tour companies to take groups of tourists from neighbouring countries to several provinces on three-day border passes. “Tour companies must request permission from immigration police before taking tourists with border passes out of the area specified,” he was quoted as saying.
Lt. Col Lathavy said that individual tourists holding border passes would not be given permission by immigration police to travel to many provinces, and will be required to have a passport with a valid Lao visa to enter the country.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Luang Prabang prepares for Lao New Year
(KPL) Luang Prabang authorities have established 16 sub committees for organising the Lao New Year celebration for year 2552 (according to Lunar calendar) which is falling on 14-16 April 2009.
As the previous years the Luang Prabang authorities have decided to organise trade fair at That Luang Square on 10 April with traditional art performance and Miss Lao New Year contest and the perfume-watering of Pra Bang, the most respectful of Luang Prabang people, at Vat Mai Suvannaphumala.
To attract larger numbers of tourists the authorities of the province have been making efforts in expanding accommodations such as hotels, guesthouses and restaurants and classification of hotels to ensure their service to visitors.
As of 2007, Luang Prabang has 21 hotels, 203 guesthouses and resorts and 104 restaurants and seven entertainment places. These accommodations have 2,162 rooms and 3,439 beds in total.
As the previous years the Luang Prabang authorities have decided to organise trade fair at That Luang Square on 10 April with traditional art performance and Miss Lao New Year contest and the perfume-watering of Pra Bang, the most respectful of Luang Prabang people, at Vat Mai Suvannaphumala.
To attract larger numbers of tourists the authorities of the province have been making efforts in expanding accommodations such as hotels, guesthouses and restaurants and classification of hotels to ensure their service to visitors.
As of 2007, Luang Prabang has 21 hotels, 203 guesthouses and resorts and 104 restaurants and seven entertainment places. These accommodations have 2,162 rooms and 3,439 beds in total.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Tourist arrivals in Vangvieng is on a roll
(KPL) The global and Lao tourism industry is certain to be hard hit by the current global financial crisis but the slump in tourism in the world has not come Vangvieng.
The current number of tourist arrivals to Vangvieng district is drifting upwards, from 300 to 350 per day in 2008 to 400 daily in 2009, said District Chief of Vangvieng, Mr Kongsy Oudom.
“Last year, tourism for this district expanded at the rate of 10-15 per cent and for the whole year the total number of 127,750, on average of 300-350 people per day,” he continued.
What is important is to improve and expand the existing tourist sites of this district in order to provide quality support to the tourists, especially during the festive days, said Mr Komgsy.
“However, one should not forget that because of the ongoing global financial crisis, the tourists might fork out less money than usual and this can have an impact on the local people who depend on the tourist dollar for their livelihood,” stressed the district chief of Vangvieng.
Efforts had been made since 2000 to expand and improve the infrastructure and tourism sites of this district, so that at present it has 32 tourism sites and 72 hotels and resorts.
The current number of tourist arrivals to Vangvieng district is drifting upwards, from 300 to 350 per day in 2008 to 400 daily in 2009, said District Chief of Vangvieng, Mr Kongsy Oudom.
“Last year, tourism for this district expanded at the rate of 10-15 per cent and for the whole year the total number of 127,750, on average of 300-350 people per day,” he continued.
What is important is to improve and expand the existing tourist sites of this district in order to provide quality support to the tourists, especially during the festive days, said Mr Komgsy.
“However, one should not forget that because of the ongoing global financial crisis, the tourists might fork out less money than usual and this can have an impact on the local people who depend on the tourist dollar for their livelihood,” stressed the district chief of Vangvieng.
Efforts had been made since 2000 to expand and improve the infrastructure and tourism sites of this district, so that at present it has 32 tourism sites and 72 hotels and resorts.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Khammouane to host eco-tourism festival in 2010
(KPL) Khammouane province will host an eco-tourism festival for five central provinces in 2010 and a similar festival was held in Vientiane province just a few days ago.
This decision was made when the 3rd tourism promotion meeting was held in Vientiane province on 31 January. Mr Thayaphone Singthong, Head of Tourism Division in Khammouane province said that to prepare for this event the province would be getting the cooperation of the National Tourism Administration and five central provinces of Vientiane, Borikhamsay, Savannakhet and Vientiane Capital. He said that in order to boost tourism there is a need to promote the culture and history of the five central provinces, particularly tourism resources in Khammouane province.
This province, he added has the Sikhottabong stupa, the Konglor caves that were used by the Lao leaders for national defense and liberation other scenic tourist sites.
This decision was made when the 3rd tourism promotion meeting was held in Vientiane province on 31 January. Mr Thayaphone Singthong, Head of Tourism Division in Khammouane province said that to prepare for this event the province would be getting the cooperation of the National Tourism Administration and five central provinces of Vientiane, Borikhamsay, Savannakhet and Vientiane Capital. He said that in order to boost tourism there is a need to promote the culture and history of the five central provinces, particularly tourism resources in Khammouane province.
This province, he added has the Sikhottabong stupa, the Konglor caves that were used by the Lao leaders for national defense and liberation other scenic tourist sites.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Plain of Jars to attract more tourists to Xiengkhuang province
(KPL) The plain of jars is now the first tourist destination of Xiengkhuang province and it is expected to receive more than 20,000 foreign tourists in the year of 2009.
Mr. Khamphet Phommadouagkaison, Head of Tourism Department of Xiengkhuang said recently that his province has been working to improve many section of tourism, especially the infrastructure and accommodation to receive increased number of tourists. Today, the Xiengkhuang province has 93 surveyed tourism sites, 35 sites of which have already opened for service.
Mr. Khamphet added that the plain of jars which comprised with four main sites namely Plain of Jars, site 1 in Paek district, site 2-3 in Phaxay district and site 4 in Ban Phakeo, Paek district are the most attractive tourist sites in the province.
Besides the plain of Jars, the Xiengkhuang province has also a number of tourist sites to serve the local and foreign tourists. These included the hot spring in Khoun and Kham districts, eco-tourism site of Xang Cave, Kha, Peub and Lang waterfalls in Phaxay district
Mr. Khamphet Phommadouagkaison, Head of Tourism Department of Xiengkhuang said recently that his province has been working to improve many section of tourism, especially the infrastructure and accommodation to receive increased number of tourists. Today, the Xiengkhuang province has 93 surveyed tourism sites, 35 sites of which have already opened for service.
Mr. Khamphet added that the plain of jars which comprised with four main sites namely Plain of Jars, site 1 in Paek district, site 2-3 in Phaxay district and site 4 in Ban Phakeo, Paek district are the most attractive tourist sites in the province.
Besides the plain of Jars, the Xiengkhuang province has also a number of tourist sites to serve the local and foreign tourists. These included the hot spring in Khoun and Kham districts, eco-tourism site of Xang Cave, Kha, Peub and Lang waterfalls in Phaxay district
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Vangvieng prepares for tourism festival
Tourism officials are currently finalising accommodation options for the 10,000 people expected to visit an ecotourism festival in Vangvieng district of Vientiane province from January 26-February 1.
Vientiane Provincial Tourism Department Deputy Director, Mr Boualy Mylattana, said the department was training local people in eight urban villages of the district to manage accommodation in preparation for the event.
“Each urban village expects to accommodate 500 people. We currently have more than 4,600 rooms in our province, of which Vangvieng has 1,850 beds,” he said this week.
“We can also organise camping for 300 people in our town.”
Vangvieng is hosting the festival for five central provinces : Vientiane , Borikhamxay, Khammuan and Savannakhet and Vientiane .
The festival aims to showcase tourism products and foster ecotourism development throughout the provinces of Laos and with neighbouring countries.
Mr Boualy said his department was still collecting data on accommodation in outlying villages and neighbouring districts and expected it to be correlated by mid-January.
“Our accommodation will be sufficient for our guests and visitors - we have officially invited more than 500 domestic and international guests,” he said.
“We know that now our accommodation in the town of Vangvieng is almost full, but we will reserve rooms for our 500 official guests from January 29 to February 1.”
Festival highlights will include 300 exhibition booths displaying tourism products, handicrafts, agricultural produce and industrial products from Laos , Vietnam and Thailand .
There will also be cultural performances, a traditional sports competition and a Miss Sweet Orange Beauty Contest.
The official opening ceremony will occur on January 30 and include cultural processions and traditional dancing and music.
While in Vangvieng, people will also have the opportunity to see beautiful natural scenery, visit a sweet orange farm and organic farm and go tubing or kayaking along the Xong River .
Vangvieng district is 150km north of Vientiane on Road Number 13.
By Panyasith Thammavongsa
(Latest Update January 02, 2008)
http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/Previous_01/FreeContent/Free_Vangvieng.htm
Vientiane Provincial Tourism Department Deputy Director, Mr Boualy Mylattana, said the department was training local people in eight urban villages of the district to manage accommodation in preparation for the event.
“Each urban village expects to accommodate 500 people. We currently have more than 4,600 rooms in our province, of which Vangvieng has 1,850 beds,” he said this week.
“We can also organise camping for 300 people in our town.”
Vangvieng is hosting the festival for five central provinces : Vientiane , Borikhamxay, Khammuan and Savannakhet and Vientiane .
The festival aims to showcase tourism products and foster ecotourism development throughout the provinces of Laos and with neighbouring countries.
Mr Boualy said his department was still collecting data on accommodation in outlying villages and neighbouring districts and expected it to be correlated by mid-January.
“Our accommodation will be sufficient for our guests and visitors - we have officially invited more than 500 domestic and international guests,” he said.
“We know that now our accommodation in the town of Vangvieng is almost full, but we will reserve rooms for our 500 official guests from January 29 to February 1.”
Festival highlights will include 300 exhibition booths displaying tourism products, handicrafts, agricultural produce and industrial products from Laos , Vietnam and Thailand .
There will also be cultural performances, a traditional sports competition and a Miss Sweet Orange Beauty Contest.
The official opening ceremony will occur on January 30 and include cultural processions and traditional dancing and music.
While in Vangvieng, people will also have the opportunity to see beautiful natural scenery, visit a sweet orange farm and organic farm and go tubing or kayaking along the Xong River .
Vangvieng district is 150km north of Vientiane on Road Number 13.
By Panyasith Thammavongsa
(Latest Update January 02, 2008)
http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/Previous_01/FreeContent/Free_Vangvieng.htm
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