Khone Phapheng waterfall in Champassak province has earned more than 350 million kip for provincial tourism authorities over the first five months of 2008, according to a tourism official.

“Eighty percent of visitors to the waterfall are from Thailand and Europe and the rest are tourists from other provinces in Laos ,” Khone Phapheng waterfall tourism official Sisavath Bouapaseuth said yesterday.

He said the money received was from entry fees to the waterfall, which are 3,000 kip for Lao nationals and 10,000 kip foreigners.

Many tourists visit the cascade just before the rainy season because it is the best time of year to view the waterfall.

“Most tourists schedule a visit to Khone Phapheng before or after going to Vat Phou because these are the best natural and cultural tourist attractions in Champassak province,” Mr Sisavath said.

He said the numerous handicraft stalls and restaurants at the waterfall also benefited from the growing number of tourists.

A tourist from Thailand , Mr Bounta, who visited the waterfall last week, said the site was so beautiful he took almost 500 photos to show to friends and family in Bangkok .

Another visitor from Vientiane , Ms Nilanda, suggested authorities set up more handicraft stalls in the area to promote traditional Lao products.

Khone Phapheng waterfall is considered the largest by volume in the Southeast Asia region. Amongst the fall's many channels and rocky outcrops visitors can view local people going about their daily work, including setting fish traps.

“Due to the increasing number of tourists, we are doing what we can to protect the environment. We have installed rubbish bins and urge visitors to consider the impact they have on the site,” Mr Sisavath said.

He said almost 50,000 people had visited the falls so far this year and believed these figures would continue to increase in the future.

By Souknilundon Southivongnorath
Vientianetimes

(KPL) The construction of Savanh Vegas Hotel and Casino Project in Savannakhet province is expected to be completed and operate in early September.

The statement was disclosed at a meeting between the Investment Promotion Department and the Chinese Sanum Investments Ltd, owner of the investment project, in Savannakhet province on 9 May. Savannakhet Governor Mr Vilayvanh Phomke was also on hand.

Commencing in late 2007, the construction made in the village of Nongdeun, Kaysone Phomvihane district, is now 70 per cent completed.

The developer of the project is also conducting a survey and preparation for a similar project in Paksong district, the southernmost province of Champassak.

The President of Sanum Investments Limited Benson Ko said early this month the investment projects in Savannakhet and Paksong, Champassak, were considered significant contribution to the national economic development. Both projects cost US$50 million with the government of Laos holding 20% of the shares.

Upon completion, Paksong-Vegas Project is expected to attract more foreign tourists, as it is considered the biggest five-star spa and resort in Asia.

The construction project of Champasak Oriental Hotel in Phonthong district, Champasak province, kicked of in the end of 2006 and now 30% of the construction has been completed. According to the schedule, this hotel set to
be finished 75% by the end of 2007. However, the construction faced a lot of difficulties due to the place for the construction located on the rocky platueu, causing a lot of design to be changed, and added up more the cost of the construction to 12.500.000 $. The rainy season also delayed the construction of this hotel for many months.

Mr. Somsak Keosouriya, representative of Lao Jakao resor, hotel and tourism reported that the budject for the construction came from foreign investment (Thailand) and this hotel will be opened to the public by the middle of 2008.

This hotel comprises of 4 main buildings. Each building is a 3-stored building consists of 112 rooms. Each building has a conventional hall which can accommodate more than 2,000 people.

(KPL) Champassak province is accelerating the improvement of tourism sites to deal with the increments of tourists averaged by 45 per cent increase.
Last year, the trend of tourists and the tourism sites increased considerably leading to hundred thousands of tourists visited Champassak, said Mr Khamphol Nouasengsy, Head of Provincial Tourism Service, last week.

He continued that over the past one year, the tourism saw it grew rapidly, particularly Champassak province. The number of tourists visited Champassak province exceeded the plan with a total number of 165,750 tourists, of whom 45,605 foreigners.

This is due to the province is abundant with nature and the potential of natural resource, archeological and historical sites where attracted tourists currently.
Now entire the province has a total tourism sites of 206, of which 109 natural sites, 57 cultural sites and historical sites.

Over 20 tourism companies are providing the service for tourists, of which nine main companies, 11 branches and one agent.

Source: kpl

Photo: A sticky rice field on top of the Pha Pon Golden Mountain near Luang Prabang, Laos. A Hmong villager stands admiring the sea of clouds below. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/hleung/2071568156/in/photostream/)

Perhaps the world's most famous newspaper, the New York Times, recently named Laos as number one of the world's top 53 tourist destinations to visit in 2008.

Author of the Travel Section of the newspaper, Mr Denny Lee, collected information on the most attractive destinations in the world, and named Laos as the number one place to visit this year.

In his report, Mr Lee states that “Vietnam and Cambodia are so 2007. Now, Laos is shaping up to be Indochina's next hot spot. Ancient sites like the Vat Phou temple complex and Vientiane are drawing culture seekers”.

“F oreigners have praised us because our Party has a clear policy on tourism development that conforms with the latest in world's trends,” the Director of the Lao National Tourism Administration's Marketing Promotion Department, Mr S aly Phimphinith, said on Monday.

Mr Lee mentions the unique delight of a luxury teak houseboat cruising down the Mekong.

“Global nomads are heading to Luang Prabang to sample the Lao tasting menu at 3 Naga, or hang out by the infinity pool at the seriously upscale Résidence Phou Vao.”

Tourist destinations continue to be improved, and the tourist sector has increased its efforts to promote tourism. The government has successfully developed the tourism infrastructure as well as improved all facilities for tourists in the country, Mr Saly said.

The administration has also extended cooperation with neighbouring countries and international organisations to attract more foreign tourists to Laos, he said.

“The country offers stability and safety, while at the same time preserving its many national heritage sites as tourist attractions, and this part of the world has therefore become an attractive destination in which to relax,” Mr Saly said.

Due to the beautiful scenery and views, those tourists interested in nature, as well as fine culture, historical sites and the lifestyle of Lao ethnic groups and Lao people are drawn to the region.

The tourism industry plays a very important role in Lao's economy. It generates sustainable incomes for all Lao people and helps to remove people from the despair of poverty, Mr Saly said.

Since the country first began a specific tourism campaign in 1990-2000, the number of visitors to Laos has rapidly increased.

Foreign visitors to Laos topped 737,208 in 2002, and tourism became one of the nation's leading income earners.

The Lao National Tourism Administration is expecting more than a million visitors to Laos this coming year, generating around US$195 million for the tourism sector.

By vientiane times