Laos' Xaysomboun ramps up tourist attractions
VIENTIANE - Hom district authorities in Xaysomboun province are planning to develop PhaChaeLae waterfall and other sites as popular tourist destinations, which will help to boost the local economy.
RIIRPhaChaeLae waterfall is 100 metres high and it is situated in Namkhien village, about six kilometres from the centre of Hom district.
Direc tor of the provincial Information, Culture and Tourism Department, MrVonepadithDalanouvong, told Vientiane Times yesterday that PhaChaeLae is now the most popular waterfall in the district.
He said hundreds of Lao and foreign visitors flocked there during the Lao New Year holiday from April 13-16.
Many people also went to cool off at Pheung waterfall in the district's Phoukatha village, he added.
Although PhaChaeLae and Pheung waterfalls were officially opened to the public several years ago they have not been particularly popular in general.
Hoping to generate more public interest in these beauty spots, officials from the district Information, Culture and Tourism Office and other sectors concerned have explored the potential of the waterfalls and submitted their findings to the provincial authorities, MrVonepadith said.
He noted that PhaChaeLae waterfall in particular should be put on the tourist map as it is quite spectacular.
The falls are surrounded by woodland so the air is cool and fresh and the water flows all year round.
Hom is one of five districts in Xaysomboun province with the others being Longxan, Anouvong, Long Cheng and Tha-thom.
Xaysomboun has 50 officially designated tourist sites, four of which are of historical interest, nine are cultural sites, and 37 are areas of natural beauty.
Other highlights in the province are the 2,820-metre high PhouBia mountain in Anouvong district; the Nam Ngum 2 dam and reservoir located 35km south of Anouvong town; PhouMork mountain near Long Cheng village; Khoum Molakot near PhouMork mountain in Long Cheng district; Dan PhaSaeb cliff which is about 18km north of Long San village; the Palace of King SisavangWatthana; and VangPao's house which is located in Long Cheng village, Long Cheng district.
Xaysomboun province has a population of more than 81,000 people and many colourful ethnic groups.
The province launched the Visit Xaysomboun Year campaign at the end of 2015, encouraging visitors to explore some unknown and untouched sites in this formerly restricted area that was for a long time closed to all outsiders.
The tourism campaign not only attracted visitors but business operators who were interested in investing in tourism-related activities.
In 2014-15, the number of visitors to the province climbed to 22,137 people, including 4,945 foreign nationals, generating revenue of more than 2 billion kip.
