VIENTIANE: Attapeu provincial authorities have approved a 30-year concession for a local company to develop the area around the Xekaman 1 hydroelectric dam and the nearby military tank park in Chaleunxay village, Xanxay district, into a tourist attraction.
The aim of the scheme is to build facilities at the reservoir that will create jobs for local people and earn revenue for the province.
The project covers two hectares of land within a 275-hectare protected area and includes plans to build a viewpoint, restaurant, accommodation and improved roads, and introduce recreational water-based activities.
The site will also feature an information centre and an exhibition on the historical role of the military tank park.
According to officials, the project will be implemented in line with sustainability principles, ensuring the protection of the environment and community livelihoods while creating new income opportunities for local residents.
An agreement on the venture was signed in Attapeu between provincial representatives Mixay Sisavengsouk, Bounpone Onviengxay and Khamsouk Bounpaseuth, and company representatives Kongkham Sengminathy and Chanthavong Sengminathy, and witnessed by Deputy Provincial Governor Thanouxay Bansalith.
Attapeu, located in southern Laos, is known for its untouched landscapes, waterfalls, and rivers such as the Xe Kong and Xe Kaman.
In recent years, the province has been promoting eco-tourism and cultural heritage tourism with a view to attracting more visitors. - Vientiane Times/ANN
