Wat Xieng Thong is one of the most important of Lao monasteries and remains a significant monument to the spirit of religion, royalty and traditional art. - Photo: laostravel.com
VIENTIANE: The Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism is working to improve tourism infrastructure and service standards to make Laos a more attractive destination.
This was the response given by the Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Suanesavanh Vignaket, to questions asked by National Assembly members during the ongoing sitting of the legislative body.
Suanesavanh highlighted the challenges facing the tourism sector, including a lack of unified development, poor coordination in project approvals, and environmental degradation caused by unregulated activities such as hotel construction and resource exploitation.
To address these issues, the ministry has formulated master plans and management plans, and improved tourism standards in coordination with central and provincial sectors.
These efforts aim to establish clear guidelines for entrepreneurs, ensuring sustainable development and compliance with regulations.
Laos has achieved significant recognition for its progress in tourism standards, receiving 219 Asean Tourism Standards Awards to date.
These include 113 Asean Green Hotel Awards, 12 Homestay Awards, 10 Participatory Tourism Awards, 7 Clean Tourism City Awards, 34 Event Venue Awards, 12 Spa Awards, 22 Public Toilet Awards, and 6 Sustainable Tourism Awards.
The ministry has overseen the upgrade of 151 places of accommodation, including 95 hotels and 56 guesthouses.
Among these are 16 five-star hotels, 23 four-star hotels, and 25 three-star hotels.
Guesthouses are also graded, with 10 achieving three-star status, 26 rated as two-star, and 20 receiving one-star ratings.
In terms of hygiene, 1,340 businesses have been certified under the LaoSafe standards, with 34 trainers and assessors trained.
Standards for tourism sites and accommodation have been aligned with six Asean benchmarks, including clean cities, community-based tourism, and event venues.
Updated standards for hotels, resorts, apartments and guesthouses are under review by the ministry.
The ministry is also developing standards for tour guides.
Annual training sessions for tour guides have been held, focusing on skill development and professional knowledge.
Looking ahead, efforts will prioritise upgrading hygiene and clean restaurant standards to ensure safety and attract more visitors.
The ministry continues to work with relevant sectors to implement these measures and strengthen Laos’ position as a sustainable and appealing travel destination.
The Prime Minister told the National Assembly on Monday (Nov 25) that so far this year over 5 million tourists have visited Laos, generating more than US$1 billion in revenue and surpassing the target for domestic tourism by 27 percent. - Vientiane Times/ANN
