Laos: World's best tourism destination
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The European Council on Tourism and Trade (ECTT) will announce Laos as the World's Best Tourist Destination for 2013. Council chairman Prof Anton Caragea called on Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong and Minister of Tourism Bosengkham Vongdara in Vientian
The delegation also visited important tourism sites in Vientiane before departing for Luang Prabang to experience the city and its traditional culture.
The handover ceremony for the award will take place at Don Chan Palace Hotel in Vientiane tomorrow. The event will be attended by Deputy PM Asang Laoly and other high-ranking officials. Given the importance of the delegation’s award to Laos, the government has allocated more than US$90,000 (Bt2.6 million) to prepare facilities for the award ceremony.
During the ceremony, a video presentation showing highlights of Lao tourism and tourists’ impressions will be screened, followed by speeches by Prof Anton and Prof Bosengkham, and performances.
The award cited Laos’ promotion of free and fair tourism, the safety of tourists, facilities offered, access to sites of historical and cultural significance, investment in the preservation of historical sites, and the benefits of tourism to grassroots communities.
The European Union Council recently presented a report titled “Laos: a Tourist and Cultural Paradise” proposing Laos as the winner of the award this year.
The aim of the recognition is to continue promoting community-based tourism in Laos, which is friendly to nature, has low ecological impacts and helps protect and preserve endangered species and natural bio-diversity, especially rainforest eco-climates.
Laos offers not only an outstanding historical and cultural experience but also the possibility to explore nature, to contribute to ecological preservation and the opportunity to visit extraordinary places such as the Nam Ngum reservoir, Bolaven plateau, Four Thousand Islands, Khuang Xi waterfall and other attractions.
Sustainable tourism can aid the preservation of historical and cultural sites such as Vat Phou Champassak, a World Heritage Site, and the Plain of Jars, which offers an insight into Neolithic civilisation and a rare window into centuries-old tradition.
In 2012, tourist arrivals rose to 3.3 million, up 22 per cent on 2011.
