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Well-known Lao adventure tourism destination Vangvieng district in Vientiane province expects its revenue to continue to rise 7 per cent to more than 70 billion kip (Bt300 million) this year.
Head of the Vangvieng Tourism Department Bounmy Phommasa said tourists carry on flowing in to town even though the Nam Xong River flooded last month.
Tourist arrivals are expected to increase 7-8 per cent to 540,000 this year, he said.
Many people come to join activities such as tubing, kayaking, climbing, cycling, trekking, boat trips and quad bike riding.
Vangvieng has seen strong growth in tourist numbers from more than 450,000 in 2014 to more than 500,000 in 2015.
The district’s tourism industry can thank the growth in tour groups from Asia, up 50 per cent, with more Koreans, Chinese and Thai visitors coming to town.
European visitors were also up 45 per cent and those from other countries 5 per cent, which shows the town’s tourism industry is springing back to life. – Vientiane Times

8 per cent rise in Bagan visitors
Bagan welcomed 160,000 visitors as of last month, 8 per cent more than the same period last year, according to the Myanmar Tourism Federation.
“We expect 300,000 visitors to Bagan this year. The earthquake has damaged the region but not its tourist industry,” said Than Htut Khine, director of Bagan at the Hotel and Tourism Ministry.
Some pagodas have been closed to visitors. The quake affected nearly 400 of more than 3,000 religious buildings in Bagan.
“As a Bagan native myself, I know the region will not run out of go-to places; many pagodas are left unaffected,” Zaw Wade of the Myanmar Hotelier Association said.
“There are 82 hotels in four zones.” – Eleven Myanmar

Co.op Food’s first shop opens
Saigon Co.op has begun to franchise its Co.op Food brand, with the first such store opening in Binh Thanh district, Ho Chi Minh city in Vietnam. The 98th Co.op Food outlet sells more than 4,000 essential items.
Tran Lam Hong, deputy general director of Saigon Co.op, said five franchise outlets are expected to open this year.
Besides assisting them with legal procedures and doing up the shops, Co.op Food will also help them with training human resources, management, quality control and others.
It will supply all their products and run promotions like at other Co.op Food shops.
Customers holding a Co.opmart card will enjoy the same benefits from the franchisees. – Viet Nam News