****
Despite the challenging economic conditions, the Lao National Tourism Administration (LNTA) expects around 1.8 million foreign visitors to enter Laos this year, generating about US$270 million of income.
vientiane times, 13 februari 2009
Vientiane to welcome 900,000 tourists in 2009
(KPL) Vientiane Capital will welcome 900,000 tourists this year, the latest prediction of the Vientiane Tourism Division and in the course of making such a computation it has taken into consideration the impact of the global financial crisis on Laos.
The tourism industry sector is considered by both the Party and government as an important sector of the national economy so much so that the National Tourism Administration has drawn up a tourism development plan for the years 2006-2020.
Vientiane is concerned about sustainable tourism and so it is trying to get all the tourism organizations in the country to abide by such a policy.
Last year, Vientiane welcomed 800,000 tourists and with the projected increase this year to 900,000 they will spend as much as US$86 million in Vientiane.
lao news agency
Xieng Khuang gets US$ 2 million from tourists
(KPL) Xieng Khuang province gets US$ 2 million from its tourism sector last year, according to the Vice Head of Tour Services of Xieng Khuang, Mr. Sivilay.
Two hundred and twenty two thousand tourists visited this province last year and this figure is less by 2,000 tourists compared to 2007, said Mr. Sivilay.
The decrease is due to the effect of the world financial crisis and the closing of the Thai airports. The temporary closure led tourists to cancel their trips to Laos.
Because of the projected decrease of tourists the tourism sector of this province increased the prices of their services and so met their targeted US$ 2 million or an increase of US$900,000.
However, the province is trying to attract more tourists to visit Xieng Khuang and it is hoping that its famed Plain of Jars will become a UNESCO world heritage site soon and so attract more tourists.
More than 30 tourism sites are found in this province and three more will be opened soon, said Mr Sivilay. Xieng Khouang has 11 hotels and 43 guesthouses, but more will be available soon to meet the projected increase in tourist arrivals.
lao news agency
by Lao News Agency
Xieng Khuang gets US$ 2 million from tourists
(KPL) Xieng Khuang province gets US$ 2 million from its tourism sector last year, according to the Vice Head of Tour Services of Xieng Khuang, Mr. Sivilay.
Two hundred and twenty two thousand tourists visited this province last year and this figure is less by 2,000 tourists compared to 2007, said Mr. Sivilay.
The decrease is due to the effect of the world financial crisis and the closing of the Thai airports. The temporary closure led tourists to cancel their trips to Laos.
Because of the projected decrease of tourists the tourism sector of this province increased the prices of their services and so met their targeted US$ 2 million or an increase of US$900,000.
However, the province is trying to attract more tourists to visit Xieng Khuang and it is hoping that its famed Plain of Jars will become a UNESCO world heritage site soon and so attract more tourists.
More than 30 tourism sites are found in this province and three more will be opened soon, said Mr Sivilay. Xieng Khouang has 11 hotels and 43 guesthouses, but more will be available soon to meet the projected increase in tourist arrivals.
Lao News Agency