Government officials and representatives from the private sector met yesterday in Vientiane to discuss ways to increase tourism revenue from the present hundreds of thousands to billions of dollars by 2020.

http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/FreeContent/free_Laos%20aims%20for.htm

Around 50 participants attended the 3rd Quarterly Symposium on Tourism Sector Human Resources Development in Laos, which was organised by the Lao National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality (LANITH) in collaboration with the Lao National Tourism Administration through the support of the Luxembourg Development Cooperation Project.

Chief Technical Advisor of LANITH Mr Peter Semone said “Attendees will plan future strategies to turn Lao tourism into a billion dollar industry. They will also learn about future changes to tourism in the country and what it will take to achieve them.”

He said that in 2010, there were 2.5 million visitors to Laos and the Lao tourism sector received US$400 million in revenue, second only behind the mining sector.

Eighty percent of visitors were from within the region. However, most stayed only a short time in Laos, meaning they accounted for only 45 percent of revenue in the tourism sector, with the rest coming from tourists from other regions, Mr Semone said.

“So, today we will discuss how to manage tourism services and increase tourist stays per diem to achieve one billion dollars in revenue by 2020.”

“It is not only up to us, the tourism sector, to achieve the goal, but all communities. Laos also needs to improve its quality of services through education and training programmes,” he added.

Time for us Lao oversea to go back and visits the motherland.
;)

NOT GONNA HAPPEN!!!

After 2 weeks in Laos it starts to get boring. The monotony is compounded more so, when you don't know anyone. There just isn't really anything exciting to do in Laos . Until more attractions are brought in, it's highly likely Laos will remain only a transit stop for most.

To begin, we have many 'natural' attractions to be visted by tourists and what we need is strong marketing campaign by Lao PDR.  Nowadays, older folks  are more interested in traveling to a country that is still pristine and unexplored.  I think Laos has alot to offfer to travelers from around the world.

Need to improve basic infrastructure. But whatever we are thinking about government is probably already working on it.
;)

I think we should continue on with those dams.  Don't bother with those Thai and Viet suggestions.  We need to generate more revenues ASAP.

Agreed. Government need revenue to develop the country. I supported dams construction from the started. I say we need more and more. Dams is on hold for more study not cancel. I think Lao government will go ahead.

Laos is battery of ASEAN. Thailand will finance and build the dams. Who care what Vietnam think. After 35 year Laos don't want to be poor anymore. China has already build couple dams in upper Mekong River. I don't see too many country protested about it.
8-)


PEACE wrote on 19^th May, 2011 at 2:06pm:

I think we should continue on with those dams.  Don't bother with those Thai and Viet suggestions.  We need to generate more revenues ASAP.

I think Viet is trying to 'control' Laos as much as they can and the same goes with Thailand.

Vietnam been controlling Laos since 1975. They put the current government in power. They has political influences and had influences Laos policy. That explain why Laos is poor and underdeveloped for the past 35 year. That's why Lao government bring in China and Thailand. I think Thailand only has economic interest and our culture is similar.
;)



PEACE wrote on 20^th May, 2011 at 12:21pm:

I think Viet is trying to 'control' Laos as much as they can and the same goes with Thailand.

Check out this vdo and see what our ancestor has warn us about Annam. Vietnam try to control us for the past 300-400 year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLhA1Ho1Flo





PEACE wrote on 20^th May, 2011 at 12:21pm:

I think Viet is trying to 'control' Laos as much as they can and the same goes with Thailand.

llX wrote on 20^th May, 2011 at 3:22pm:

hat's why Lao government bring in China and Thailand. I think Thailand only has economic interest and our culture is similar. ;)

Forget about the Siamese, man. Despite us being brothers, there is no mutual love. It's all sibling rivalry. >:(

In Laos, we have rivalry among our own relatives and friends.

Pretty bad here in the US because we are part of a materialistic society where a person will always want to have better 'stuff' than others.  Very agree and even worse in Laos I bet.

Admin Saovaluck wrote on 21^st May, 2011 at 1:26am:

In Laos, we have rivalry among our own relatives and friends.

Really? Like what?

Like what LaoCowboy just mentioned.

That's true. Not good though our people should stick together and help each other out. Especially family.
;)


Admin Saovaluck wrote on 21^st May, 2011 at 1:26am:

In Laos, we have rivalry among our own relatives and friends.

That's how Capitalist work. The more you spend and in credit cards debt the better for economy. That's what keep it going. Make and spend. Big corporation make more profits and will hired more worker.
;)



PEACE wrote on 21^st May, 2011 at 2:53am:

Pretty bad here in the US because we are part of a materialistic society where a person will always want to have better 'stuff' than others.  Very agree and even worse in Laos I bet.

Agree and that is why the US government wants us to SPEND, SPEND, SPEND ........ :D


llX wrote on 21^st May, 2011 at 10:19pm:

That's how Capitalist work. The more you spend and in credit cards debt the better for economy. That's what keep it going. Make and spend. Big corporation make more profits and will hired more worker. ;) PEACE wrote on 21st May, 2011 at 2:53am: Pretty bad here in the US because we are part of a materialistic society where a person will always want to have better 'stuff' than others.  Very agree and even worse in Laos I bet.

The problem is they spend spend our taxes money. War in Iraq and Afghanistan cost about $5 billion a month. They need to end the war and spend that money here in USA. You can created a lot of jobs with $5 billion a month, that's $60 billion a year. Uncle Sam also give Israel $3 billion in aid every year, $1.8 to Egypt and about $500 million to Jordan. They need to give Laos some of that mola to clear UXO bomb.  

Laos nationals GDP is only $7 billion a year.
:)


PEACE wrote on 22^nd May, 2011 at 3:59am:

Agree and that is why the US government wants us to SPEND, SPEND, SPEND ........ :D llX wrote on 21st May, 2011 at 10:19pm: That's how Capitalist work. The more you spend and in credit cards debt the better for economy. That's what keep it going. Make and spend. Big corporation make more profits and will hired more worker. ;) PEACE wrote on 21st May, 2011 at 2:53am: Pretty bad here in the US because we are part of a materialistic society where a person will always want to have better 'stuff' than others.  Very agree and even worse in Laos I bet.

True.  Those countries that the US give to, the US wants something in return from those countries.  There are strings attached ;).  The US will eventually give more money and be there in Laos because their main purpose is to hinder the Chinese advancement in Southeast Asia :o.

There's alway string attach. Jordan and Egypt is the only two Arab country that have peace treaty with Israel. Western nation is in Laos to counter China influences. But Lao government have a policy of being friends with everybody and welcome all foreign investment. China, EU or US. I like that policy.
:)



PEACE wrote on 22^nd May, 2011 at 12:49pm:

True.  Those countries that the US give to, the US wants something in return from those countries.  There are strings attached ;).  The US will eventually give more money and be there in Laos because their main purpose is to hinder the Chinese advancement in Southeast Asia :o.