VIENTIANE (Xinhua): Authorities in southern Laos' Sekong province are preparing several events to attract more visitors and mark the start of Visit Laos Year 2024.
Sekong will hold activities each month during Visit Laos Year 2024. Provincial authorities hope to attract more than 50,000 tourists this year, Deputy Head of Sekong's Information, Culture and Tourism Department Khamsone Kongner told a press conference on Wednesday.
Provincial authorities are organizing a festival featuring the customs of 10 ethnic groups, taking place from Jan. 21 to Jan. 25. The festival is an annual highlight of Sekong province, said Khamsone.
The festival includes a performing arts and cultural contest, a communal walk, the sale of food items made by local ethnic groups and a market fair.
During Lao Vice President Pany Yathotou's working visit to Sekong in September 2023, she highlighted the need for developments in tourism, the improvement of services and better management of tourist attractions, saying that management of the service sector should be improved quickly.
To ensure that visitors are satisfied with their stay in Sekong, provincial authorities are aiming to improve the standard of services and in particular the management of restaurants and hotels.
The tourism industry is a priority sector driving the growth of socio-economic development in Laos alongside the promotion of green tourism.
The Lao government is increasingly emphasizing the country's potential as a nature-based tourist destination. There are also colorful traditions to be observed among Laos' many ethnic groups, while old temples and historical sites are another drawcard.
Sekong province, some 530 km southeast of the Lao capital Vientiane, has designated specific places as tourist destinations because of their historical, archaeological and agricultural interest, as well as areas of natural beauty and places that make handicrafts.
Provincial leaders have made tourism a priority for attracting domestic and foreign investment, hoping to generate income for local residents and improve the lives of people in surrounding areas.
Local authorities have encouraged entrepreneurs to build visitor facilities at some areas of natural beauty in order to draw people in larger numbers. The province hopes to attract investment that will spur development of the area and bolster tourism, while also preserving the natural environment and creating jobs for local communities. - XInhua
