Discover the Jewel of the Mekong river, Laos, by the Lao National Tourism Administration

(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.

Photo: Ou cave in Luang prabang, Laos.

Travellers have always made lists of the top destinations to be visited in the world and even armchair travellers dream of experiencing the most unique and exciting sites the planet has to offer.

Bruce Poon, the founder of adventure travel company GAP Adventures, shares his top ten tourist places to see in your lifetime.

Here is what he said about Laos.

The magnificent ancient caves of Pak Ou in Laos are set high above the Mekong River some 25km from Luang Prabang.

These caves have been a place of Buddhist worship and solitude for more than 600 years and more than 4,000 images of the Buddha have been placed inside them over that time.

A humbling place to ponder life's greater mysteries and Mr Poon said that experiencing the tranquillity of these caves is something he will always cherish.

More info about this article can be found at

http://www.travelbite.co.uk/feature/south-and-central-america/venezuela/top-ten-places-see-in-your-lifetime-$1217114.htm

Photo: Nang Sangkan (Miss Lao New Year 2008 in Luang Prabang, Laos)

Luang Prabang has estimated the number of both domestic and foreign visitors entering the province during Lao New Year celebration at 22,000.

“Foreign tourists will share over 70 per cent of the total visitors of the province during the celebration of Lao New Year,” said this week the Head of Luang Prabang Tourism Office, Mr. Khamtanh Somphanvilay.

The province also estimates that around 4 billion kip will be in circulation during the celebration.

“This year the province cerebrates Lao New Year from 9 to 19 April, and there will be so many activities than ever,” added Mr. Khamtanh.
A trade fair of domestic and foreign products and services also coincides the celebration of Lao New Year.

Source:kpl
photo: lpb2d

(KPL) Laos plans to promote its reputation as “Laos - Jewel of the Mekong,” in the future to attract more tourists around the world.

This was quoted from a statement of Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office Mr Somphong Mongkhounvilay made at a seminar on Lao Mass Media with Tourism on 21 March at the National Culture Hall.

The seminar was organised by the Lao National Tourism Administration (LNTA) in cooperation with mass media agencies to mark the 10th founding anniversary of the “Mouang Lao” (Laos) Magazine.

Mr Somphong who is also the LNTA President, highlighted over the past 15 years the active and constant Lao tourism development. Since 1999, the Lao tourism has seen a fast and constant growth, the number of foreign tourist arrivals has also on the rise, at least 20% a year on average. It has made a large income for the nation and ranks top of national income spinners.



In particular 2007, more than 1.6 million tourists visited Laos, up by 33%, the highest rate among ASEAN member countries. Tourism also generated US$235 million for the country.

The reputation of Lao tourism was emerging in the region and the world. In particular the Nam Ha ecotourism in northern Luang Namtha province, has won three international awards. 10 hotels have also received “green hotel awards” from the Association of ASEAN Tourism.

The curriculum of guide training of the world heritage town of Luang Prabang has won a gold award from the Association of Asia-Pacific Tourism. So has the website “ecotourismlao.com”.

The Luang Prabang World Heritage Town has also been voted by tourists through the Wanderlust, a leading travel magazine of the United Kingdom as the first rank of popular tourism town for three consecutive years (2005-07). The world leading newspaper “New York Times” in the United States selected Laos as the first rank of tourism destination by 2008, out of the 53 well-known tourism sites around the world.

Mr. Somphong also viewed that Laos’ achievement and prestige in international tourism was attributed to a great contribution of local mass media.

The successful lessons from among ASEAN member countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and others countries worldwide have invested in multi-advertisements with a huge amount each year.

According to the LNTA statistics for the 2003-07 period, tourists received information on Laos mainly from magazines and newspapers, accounting for 51 % per year, 4 % through TV, about 28-30 % through radio, 12 % through friends and 41 % through tour companies. The mass media is considered very significant for the renovation movement and tourism promotion and marketing. So the role of the media has been identified in the Lao Tourism Development Strategy for the 2006-20 period as well as tourism law, aiming at providing understanding to Lao people on contribution of tourism preservation and promotion and making foreign tourists knowing about Laos.

The awareness campaign is to concentrate on publishing the beauty of nation, outstanding natural resources, national identity of tourism products in culture, history, nature and other hospitality services. These works have so far been paid attention by the LNTA in cooperation with other private tourism companies.



The LNTA President added that Laos was a small country which was integrating its economy to the regional and international economies, which there will be cooperation and high competitive in tourism area following the opening of ASEAN Free Trade Area.
Laos will host the 2009 SEA Games in 2009 and Vientiane will celebrate its 450th anniversary of the proclamation as the country’s capital. The Party and Government consider the tourism as a priority out of other priorities involved to national economic development.

“By this, we need to cooperate with the mass media to fulfil the goal set by the Government,” said the LNTA President.

The LNTA expects that income from tourism would increase to 13% by the 2008-09 period.

VIENTIANE, Feb 21 (Bernama) -- Low-cost carrier AirAsia Bhd will introduce daily direct flight for its newly-launched Kuala Lumpur-Vientiane route by May this year from three flights per week currently, group chief executive officer Datuk Tony Fernandes said today.

He said response to the route has been "very good" since its soft launch on Dec 1 last year.

"December was a fantastic month, we had almost 90 percent of load factor and in January it was about 65 percent.

We are very confident of this route," he told reporters after the official launch of its latest route in the Asean region here.

The ceremony was officiated by Laos' Public Works and Transport Minister Sommat Pholsena and the Asssociation of South East Asian Nations (Asean) secretary-general Dr Surin Pitsuwan.

Fernandes said most of the passengers for the Kuala Lumpur-Vientiane were tourists while some were business travellers. According to him, Laos has a lot of attractive places, providing opportunities for growth.

He also hoped that the Laos government will extend the runway of Luang Prabang airport to enable the airline to offer the Kuala Lumpur-Luang Prabang route going forward.

He said the Luang Prabang runway was currently not long enough for bigger aircraft to land.

Vientiane, Laos' cultural and economic centre, is situated on the country's border with Thailand and is quickly establishing itself as a thriving tourist destination, receiving more than 700,000 visitors last year.



Meanwhile, Surin said AirAsia's Kuala Lumpur-Vientiane further connected Asean countries and enabled people to travel and explore the region with ease. He said the launch of AirAsia's new route was testament to the airline's goal of making travel accessible and a reality for all.

Earlier, Fernandes and AirAsia's chairman Datuk Pahamin Rajab personally greeted passengers of Flight AK 812 from Kuala Lumpur at the Wattay International Airport upon arrival at 10.40am (Vientiane time).

To date, AirAsia has carried over 46 million passengers under the most extensive low-cost network in the region with over 90 routes.

Visitors to Attapeu province are expressing an increasing interest in places of cultural and archaeological interest, the Head of the Provincial Tourism Office, Mr Vixian Viengkeo, said recently.

It seems overseas tourists prefer this aspect of the province to visits to ethnic groups and ecotourism. The number of foreign visitors to Attapeu province is growing, up from around 3000 in 2000 to 16,000 in 2007, said Mr Vixian.

“People coming here have heard that some of the temples have an ancient and interesting history, such as Vat That in Xaysettha district and Vat Ongsensoukhalam in Sakhae village,” he said. “Visitors have a strong interest in visiting these historical temples.”


Photo: Temple in Attapeu

The bones of King Setthathirath are said to be buried at Vat That, which was built around 1579.

A local resident, Mr Bounthone Sythanonxay, 65, is trying to locate anyone in the area who might know anything about the era of King Setthathirath, who was born in 1534 and died at the age of 38.

Ancient Buddha images believed to have been buried for more than 400 years were unearthed last year at the temple, when 139 images were discovered near an old building where many others are stored. The find consisted of 56 gold statues, 54 made of silver and 29 made of copper, of different shapes and sizes.

Mr Vixian said both local and foreign visitors were also keen to see Vat Ongsensoukhalam, which houses a large Buddha image in the sim (temple hall).

This particular image is called Phachao-ongsen , a reference to its size. Locals believe the image is sacred and has special powers, and that they will be successful in their endeavours if they call on the image for help.

The sim is small and old. In the 1970s, American missiles bombed the village and villagers hid in the sim for safety.

“Today, the sim is the only original part of the temple still standing,” Mr Vixian said.

This year the provincial tourism office will develop archaeological sites, particularly building access roads.

Mr Vixian said the office would encourage local people to make handicrafts for sale and to preserve cultural activities for the benefit of tourists.

By phon thikeo
Vientianetimes

Beer Lao, the best beer in Asia, finally released their new TV advertisement on January 2008. Check out the clip, click the youtube above to play.

The authorities of Attapeu province are developing the road to the Nongfa (blue pond) area, which is one of the more well-known tourist attractions in the province.

An official from the Provincial Tourism Office, Mr Khamphanh Boun-nhavongsy, said last Friday that the road to Nongfa is a priority in upgrading the living standards of people in rural areas, particularly in Sanxay district.

“Work on the road started a few months ago and is scheduled for completion before the rainy season begins this year,” he said.



Sanxay is an impoverished mountainous district in this southern province and borders Ngoc Hoi district in Kon Tum province, Vietnam . The condition of the roads generally in this district is poor, and transportation is difficult in the rainy season.

The upgrading will cover a 70km long stretch of muddy track that is part of Road No 18B. Sanxay district lies at the Km100 point on this road and is about 170 km from the main provincial town.

Mr Khamphanh said the rebuilding of the road from Vangtard village to Nongfa is part of a programme of comprehensive road development and will link the three villages of Vangtard-noi, Vangtard-kang and Vangtard-nhai.

He said the provincial tourism office expects that the number of local and foreign visitors to Attapeu will increase when the road network is properly established.

“Tourism in Attapeu has not really taken off. We don't advertise a lot, but there are many places here of historical and natural interest, such as Vat That in Xaysettha district and Nongfa in Sanxay district.”

He pointed out that most potential tourist sites don't have adequate road access yet. “There are many difficulties in getting around the province, which we are working on, particularly roads to tourist sites and remote areas.

Attapeu province is more than 800 km by road from Vientiane , and lies on the 1,000-km Laos-Vietnam border. The road from Vientiane to the province is newly built and in good condition.

Source: Vientianetimes