Lao Voices

Europeans keen to join Lao tourism boom

More than 1,000 European visitors expressed an interest in Lao tourist attractions and handmade textiles at the International Tourism Berlin 2008 travel trade fair, according to tourism officials.

“Around 100 European businesses said they would be prepared to work with Lao tourist operators attending the fair, and also made inquiries about Lao textiles,” an official from the Lao National Tourism Administation, Mr Rasmy Douangsatcha, said yesterday.

The Lao Association of Travel Agents joined forces with the LNTA to take part in one of the world’s most important travel trade fairs from March 5 to 9 in Berlin, Germany.

“Targeting tourism growth from Europe is an important priority for our association. We have been assisted by the European Union’s Asia Invest II programme to develop market knowledge and train members in marketing techniques,” said the association’s President, Ms Vayakone Bodhisane.

“The strong interest at this event shows that good progress is being made. Company members are paying their own travel costs to attend, illustrating the importance they attach to this initiative,” Ms Vayakone said.

More than 11,000 companies and organisations from over 180 countries took part in the travel fair, where 26 halls covered a display area of around 150,000 square metres. More than 100,000 trade visitors and over 8,000 travel writers also attended the event, said the LNTA.

The Lao delegations were led by the President of the LNTA and Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office, Mr Somphong Mongkhonvilay.

“Mr Somphong participated in various activities to promote Lao tourism, as well as negotiating and exchanging ideas with tourism businesses and representatives from the German government,” said Mr Rasmy.

After attending the event, Mr Somphong accompanied a Lao delegation participating in Le Monde a Paris, a world tourism exhibition, in Versailles, France.

By Souknilundon Southivongnorath
March 21, 2008
Vientiane Times - Vientianetimes.org.la