The European Council on Tourism and Trade is in the process of awarding Laos the World’s Best Tourist Destination for 2013 and declaring Laos as Favourite Cultural Destination for 2013, the official announcement will be made on the upcoming Thursday the 9th of May and the heat up the event, we have foreign ambassadors shared with us their impressions on Laos’s culture and the people.

The European Council on Tourism and Trade is in the process of awarding Laos the World’s Best Tourist Destination for 2013 and declaring Laos as Favourite Cultural Destination for 2013. According to the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism. The Council will send a delegation to Laos to present the award and the country is already making preparations for this event.

Prior the presentation ceremony which will take place on the upcoming Thursday the 9th of May. Two foreign ambassadors from Australia, Germany and Chargé d’Affaires of the European Union Delegation to Laos, share with us their impression on Laos.

Interview:

Laos is home to a healthy environment with many areas well-suited to the development of ecotourism that can form the basis of a green and thriving ecotourism industry. This new and emerging sector, free of pollution and supporting conservation objectives, will make a great contribution to Laos as a regional tourist destination.

Interview:
Laos has many aspects to explore, including the intriguing customs and beliefs of multi- ethnic groups and interesting archaeological and historical sites. Of particular note are the World Heritage Sites of the historic city of Luang Prabang, and Vat Phou, which covers the ancient city of Sethapura in Champassak province.

Interview:

Given the importance of the tourism industry, the government has invested substantially to improve infrastructure and provide facilities for tourists. The fine hospitality shown by the Lao people is among the most important factors attracting to urists to the country.

In conferring the award the European Council believes it will bring greater knowledge and awareness within the European Union of Laos and of the opportunities that Laos offers to European tourists interested in culture.

Last year the award went to the United Arab Emirates. It was quickly utilised to underpin consumer confidence building, investor promotion, and public relations campaigns consolidating the tourism status of the United Arab Emirates not only internally but also on the international stage.

The European Council believes that this year it is time for Laos to receive the honour.

Among the reasons for awarding the title are Laos’ promotion of free and fair tourism, safety of tourists, facilities offered, access to sites of historical and cultural significance, investment in the preservation of historical sites and cultural protection, use of tourism income to create an economically and socially balanced climate, and historical value.

Source: LNTV Lao News