(KPL) This year, the number of tourist arrivals in the country has soared to 1.4 million, up over the previous year’s. The majority of tourists are from neighbouring countries, especially Thailand.

According to the Lao National Tourism Administration, the number of tourist arrivals in 2007 stood at 1.4 million, up from 1.2 million in 2006.
Mr Soukkaseum Phothilad, Deputy-President of the Lao National Tourism Administration (NTA) last week disclosed that this year the Lao PDR was able to earn at least US$ 200 million from the tourism sector.

He said that the major destinations were Vientiane Capital with 800,000 arrivals, followed by central Savannakhet province with 192,000 arrivals and Luang Prabang province with 151,700.
An NTA official said that the rise was attributed to the abundance in ethnic minorities, natural beauty, the world heritage status of tourist sites, archaeologies and the hospitality of Lao people.