VIENTIANE: The annual Elephant Festival was held in northern Lao province of Xayaboury, marking a colourful start to the province's Visit Laos Year 2024 programme.
The popular annual festival, which saw Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith taking part in the opening ceremony on Saturday (Feb 17), featured a range of events, including a parade of elephants, with some of the animals performing circus acts and competing in a fun painting competition, Lao national TV reported on Monday.
The festival was held from Feb 12 to Feb 18, aiming at raising awareness of elephant conservation and promoting local tourism and economic development.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Deputy Governor of Xayaboury province Phetphixay Sounvilay, said that the festival was intended to spotlight the continuing need to preserve Laos' dwindling elephant herds.
He said that elephants are part of Laos' heritage and it is important to preserve the longstanding close links between elephants and the people of Xayaboury.
To ensure tourists enjoy their time in Xayaboury during Visit Laos Year 2024, people providing tourism-related services have been given extra training about cleanliness and safety, and an attempt will be made to keep prices at reasonable levels.
Xayaboury province, some 170km northwest of Lao capital Vientiane, has many attractions, including 29 officially designated nature-based attractions, 12 cultural sites, and six places with historical associations. - Xinhua
