Savannakhet province is developing tourism sites along Road No. 9, which is part of the East-West Corridor linking Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam, to attract more visitors in Visit Laos Year 2012.
Officials hope that by doing more to promote and develop local tourist sites they can entice people to stay longer in the province rather than continuing on to other destinations.
Deputy Director of the Savannakhet province Tourism Department, Mr Bountheung Xayavong, outlined the plans to interested parties during a tour of tourist sites along Road No. 9 last week.
Tourism in the province has grown significantly since 2006, when the second Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge opened, but the majority of tourists pass through briefly on their way to Vietnam or other destinations in Laos such as Vientiane and Champassak province.
Last year about one million tourists visited the province, which was about 100,000 more than the previous year. However, a good proportion of those visitors were either day trippers who stayed for just lunch or maybe for the night. Persuading some of them to stay a day or two longer would boost tourism revenues and benefit local communities.
Mr Bountheung explained that provincial tourism officials are coordinating with their counterparts in Thailand's Mukdahan province and Vietnam's Quang Tri province to develop a joint tourism and marketing strategy to highlight the many interesting places on offer for tourists along the East-West Corridor.
The province also received US$370,000 in funding from the Asian Development Bank to develop a strategic plan for the tourism industry, improve basic infrastructure and accommodation facilities, and exploit its significant eco-tourism potential.
Savannakhet province is well ahead in terms of implementing the strategic plan it developed in 2009. Authorities have overseen the development of a night market in the provincial capital, and built two bus-stops in Phin and Phalanxay districts to encourage people to stop and buy local products or enjoy some food and a cold beer.
Provincial officials are also encouraging residents of Vongsikeo village in Phin district to offer home-stays to passing tourists and offer them a glimpse of the local lifestyle. Such a venture would also generate income for the host communities.
Other attractions being promoted along Road No. 9 include the Samsao Stone, Tao Forest and Phalong Waterfall. There is also the remains of a colonial era French bank that was partially destroyed during the Indochina War, the Lao-Viet Museum in Sepon district and, of course, one can trace the path of former guerillas along the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
Many villages are also starting up workshops for tourists, teaching them how to make traditional clothing and handicrafts, as well as the ubiquitous rice whisky known as Lao lao. Mr Bountheung was confident the authorities could further promote tourism sites along Road No. 9 and open up the doors to Savannakhet, which has much to offer in terms of history, tradition and natural beauty.
