Vientiane braces for biggest ever visitor invasion

Representatives of travel agents from Nong Khai and Udon Thani paid a courtesy visit to Sila Mounthalavong, vice president of the Lao National Tourism Administration (LNTA), in Vientiane on Tuesday to discuss arrangements for the expected influx of Thai visitors.

Udon Thani and Nong Khai are the two major gateways to Vientiane. The Thai travel agents also held discussions with their Lao counterparts to make arrangements for their clients' stays which included guided tours, transport, tickets for the Games and bookings at hotels and restaurants.

According to the LNTA, the large number of Thais will be joined in Vientiane by an army of Vietnamese visitors, eager to see how their own athletes fare. Sila said Vientiane would offer a warm welcome to all visitors during the sporting event, adding that the capital has sufficient hotels and guesthouses to accommodate more than 11,000 people. The LNTA has asked hospitality businesses in the outskirts of the city to prepare to soak up any overspill.

"We expect that at the end of the Games, tourists might want to see more of the country, such as Vangvieng district in Vientiane province where they can enjoy some beautiful natural scenery," Sila said in an interview with the Vientiane Times.

"The LNTA has already held discussions with hospitality businesses to ensure that they will maintain reasonable service charges during the Games in an effort to lure tourists back for a second visit in the future."

He called on Vientiane and Nong Khai travel agents to continue cooperating in the future to boost tourism in neighbouring provinces.

"Vientiane is not only the capital of Laos, but also a gateway to Indochina, as it has transport connections to major tourist destinations such as the World Heritage listed town of Luang Prabang, the Plain of Jars in Xieng Khuang province, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam, Chiang Mai in Thailand and Siem Reap in Cambodia," he continued.

The tourism industry in Laos has increased rapidly in recent years due to the rise of visitors and growing foreign investment in the country, Sila said.