VIENTIANE: A three-year infrastructure improvement project funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) of visitor facilities at Nam Ngum Reservoir 1 in Keo-oudom district, Vientiane province, is now officially completed.
Minister of Information, Culture, and Tourism (MICT), Suanesavanh Vignaket, and Governor of Vientiane province, Khamphanh Sitthidampha, inaugurated the site at a handover ceremony on Tuesday (Dec 3), joining deputy ministers, provincial officials and other stakeholders.
Before the ceremony, the Director General of MICT’s Tourism Development Department, Phonemaly Inthaphom, outlined the US$5.3 million project funded by an ADB grant.
Under the Greater Mekong Subregion Tourism Infrastructure for Inclusive Growth Project (Phase II), the improvements included building a 6.3-km concrete road linking the Nam Ngum reservoir to Highway No. 10, enhancing the port area, and constructing three scenic viewpoints.
Infrastructure upgrades feature a retaining wall, seven shop buildings with 32 rooms, a public food market, a welcoming archway, and public toilets accessible for persons with disabilities.
In addition, the project also improved the landscape by planting trees and grasses to enhance the environment while installing fall barriers and ensuring safe, weather-resistant conditions.
Tourist facilities such as a viewing platform, landscaped greenery, and a garbage storage building were also added, as well as utility installations like water and electricity systems, streetlights, and wastewater treatment.
The agreement for the project was signed between MICT, as the owner of the site and Khamfong Group, as the contractor, with construction beginning on July 1, 2021. Minister Suanesavanh praised the upgrades, calling the site a premier recreation destination that balances tourism with biodiversity conservation and sustainable water management.
“This site is set to become a model tourist destination, attracting both domestic and international visitors. The project fosters collaboration between the government, the private sector, and local communities to ensure sustainable administration and space allocation,” she said.
The Minister emphasised that local communities would directly benefit from increased tourism, promoting economic growth, creating jobs, and attracting further investment.
She also reaffirmed that the ministry would continue its ongoing cooperation with authorities of Vientiane province to engage experienced businesses in managing the tourist site to focus on enhancing its quality and sustainability.
The Vientiane province governor expressed his sincere gratitude for the collaborative efforts of the MICT and ADB.
“So far, Vientiane province has already welcomed over 1 million visitors this year domestically and internationally, and several tourism spots are already well-known in the province.
"However, this newly improved tourism site will also contribute to the development of local communities and enable visitors to experience the lifestyle of minorities living in the reservoir area,” he said.
The handover ceremony ended with the provincial Governor striking a gong to mark a new chapter for tourism in the province, with the new site now aiming to contribute to Laos’ broader goals for economic growth, community development, and sustainable tourism. - Vientiane Times/ANN
