Laos aims to attract more than 3 million visitors in 2022

 Laos aims to attract more than 3 million visitors in 2022

The Lao Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism aims to attract more than 3 million domestic and international tourists, with a revenue of about 425 million USD.

A natural tourist destination has just been upgraded, ready to welcome tourists in Vangvieng district, Vientiane province, Laos. (Photo: Duy Toan)

Recently, speaking at the Conference summarizing Laos' information, culture and tourism work in 2021, orientation for 2022, Lao Deputy Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Vansy Kuamua said, to ensure With the orientation and goals of the 9th National Socio-Economic Development Plan (2021-2025), the Lao Information, Culture and Tourism sector strives to attract 1,077,002 foreign tourists. to tourism in Laos, generating revenue of about 271,725,235 USD in case the Covid-19 epidemic subsides and Laos has measures to ease and open international border gates, including Laos - China international border gates along the route. rail. In the country, Laos strives to attract 1,966,001 tourists, generating about 153,345,078 USD in revenue, in which, associated with the tourism promotion policy "Lao tourism in Laos", in coordination between the State and other agencies. enterprises in the construction of tourism activities.

At this conference, the delegates unanimously approved many policies on tourism such as: Tourism development plan of Laos for the period of 2021-2025; measures to decentralize tourist destinations in Laos; policy on tourism recovery policy of Laos due to the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic in the period of 2021-2025; handbook to evaluate the results of sustainable tourism in Laos; Xaysomboun province tourism development plan for the period of 2021-2025; list of priority tourist destinations calling for investment across the country…

Speaking at the conference, Lao Deputy Prime Minister Kikeo Khaykhamphithoune asked the Lao Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism to pay attention to propagating, developing and managing cultural, historical and natural tourist attractions. , ecotourism and sustainable tourism with the participation of people; coordinate with relevant sectors, both the State and businesses, to organize the implementation of the plan to restore the tourism industry, promote and guide business establishments to renovate tourist sites and ensure food and accommodation services. quality; building diversified tourism activities and products, associated with cultural tourism of ethnic groups and eco-tourism to encourage "Lao tourism in Laos, using Lao products" and manage tourism facilities. business in accordance with regulations.

Over the past time, the Lao Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism has coordinated with sectors and localities to organize many activities to restore the Lao tourism industry affected by the Covid-19 epidemic, such as: statistical data collection system, tourist statistical report, and at the same time organize training for officials at central level and target provinces; complete the collection of statistics of domestic tourists from January to December 2021; organize the 10th conference to encourage tourism connecting 6 central provinces of Laos in Xaysomboun province; complete the collection of statistics of domestic tourists in a number of target provinces, promote and provide funding from the infrastructure development project to encourage tourism phase 1 and phase 2 for the provinces to In collaboration with local authorities, businesses renovating priority tourist sites are ready to open tourist pick-up services for 21 tourist destinations.

At the same time, the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism of Laos has successfully organized conferences such as: Conference to discuss with 4 southern provinces to identify activities and implement tourism development plans in the triangle area. Laos-Vietnam-Cambodia development vision (CLVDTA) period 2022-2025; conference with the target provinces from the State and businesses to prepare to open tourism in green areas and green tourist routes; organize conferences with the Departments of Information, Culture and Tourism across the country through an online form to disseminate ASEAN's tourism standards such as: ASEAN clean tourism district standard, hotel and house standards people's holiday, participatory tourism standards and ASEAN clean public toilet standards; webinar with the World Tourism Organization on inbound tourism to help revive the tourism industry; held a conference with the Thai side on the detailed plan of ecotourism activities.

Tourism is one of Laos' important economic sectors and is the driving force behind the country's economic growth. Since 2020, the Covid-19 epidemic has caused the tourism industry of Laos to be severely affected, businesses operating in the tourism sector have had to suspend services, restrict entry and exit measures. and domestic travel has caused the number of tourists to decrease. Up to now, Laos has 1,145 natural tourist sites, 534 cultural tourist sites and 278 historical tourist sites. Over the past time, the infrastructure and favorable conditions for tourism have been continuously improved; localities have adjusted and renovated tourist sites to attract tourists