A view of the ancient town of Luang Prabang (Source: indochinavoyages) Vientiane (VNA) – Despite the global economy’s instability, the number of international tourists to Laos increased in 2015.
According to a press release of the Lao Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, the country earned about 670 million USD from 4.3 million tourists, up 4 percent compared to 2014.
Foreign visitors to the country has increased constantly in recent years, from 2.7 million in 2011 to 4.1 million in 2014, creating jobs for tens of thousands workers nationwide.
Of the figure, about 70 percent of tourists came from countries in the region, particularly Thailand, the rest were from the EU, the US, Japan and Australia.
The Lao government has introduced several strategies to promote tourism, including developing eco-tourism in rural areas, and encouraging better cooperation between the State and private enterprises in expanding eco-tourism.
The country’s eco-tourism development is aimed at reducing impacts on culture and the environment as well as increasing people’s awareness of biological diversity.
Currently, the ancient town of Luang Prabang and the Vat Phou temple complex of Laos are recorgnised as Word Heritage Sites by UNESCO.-VNA
