Dr. Keooudone Butsingkhone, Vice Governor of Khammouane Province and the official responsible for cultural and social affairs, serving as Chairman of the Khammouane Provincial Visit Laos Year 2024 Organizing Committee, held a press conference for the provincial media on January 26, 2024, at Provincial Guesthouse No. 1. He addressed the comprehensive preparations for the launch of Visit Laos Year 2024, which is guided by the slogan: “Visit Laos Safely, Enjoy Culture, Nature, and History.”
Khammouane Province, in coordination with the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, has jointly agreed to unify and set the plan for the organization of Visit Laos Year 2024. This plan primarily involves preparing 27 activities related to the province's three main tourism strengths. These include: 1 national-level activity, a cultural highlight, namely: the Boun Phra That Sikhottabong Festival; 2 provincial-level activities: the March 21, 1946 Event Commemoration Festival, a historical highlight; and The Loop tourist circuit, a natural highlight; and 24 district-level activities at the local grassroots level. On the upcoming 3rd of February 2024, our province will host the provincial opening ceremony for Visit Laos Year 2024, alongside a trade fair and product exhibition, a food festival, sports competitions, and public art and literature performances, all held at the Thakek Municipal Office, in front of Thakek High School;
Additionally, there will be the Phra That Tumphavang Festival in Nongbok District, the Sweet Rice Wine and Saek Ethnic Legend Festival at Tha Falang-Wang Sikharm tourist attraction, the Boun Kong Khao Yai (Great Rice Mound Festival) and the 30th anniversary celebration of Xaybouathong District, the Phra That Ket Keo Festival in Mahaxay District, the Tham Pha Nong Pa Fa Festival in Na Khang Xang village, Thakek District, and the Hin Boon (Puppet) Festival in Konglor village, Khounkham District, which is a famous tourist destination popular at both regional and international levels. Also, the Boun Xuang Heua Ork Phansa Phavornana (Boat Racing Festival at the end of Buddhist Lent) at the end of the year, and other traditional festivals. The primary goal is to promote, advertise, and attract both domestic and international tourists, thereby stimulating tourism within the country and the province, making it vibrant. This also includes strengthening tourism products, generating income for the entire society, and simultaneously fostering continuous socio-economic development in the province.
Currently, our Khammouane province has 210 surveyed tourist attractions, including 145 natural sites, 33 cultural sites, and 32 historical sites. Of these, 87 tourist sites are already open for visitors, and 23 attractions have been developed. This year, two more new tourist attractions will be opened: Khoun Kong Leng in Hinboun District and Tad Siang Leu waterfall in Boualapha District. At the same time, we are also focusing on developing and creating favorable conditions and facilities for guesthouse-resort operators, hotels, restaurants, and various food and beverage establishments, by collaborating with tourism business operators and relevant associations to organize activities and tour packages linked to Visit Laos Year.
To ensure that the implementation of the Visit Laos Year 2024 activity plan achieves its set objectives, the provincial Party Committee and administration have urged relevant provincial and district-level sectors to focus on 9 key programs: Public relations and promotion for Visit Laos Year 2024, improving small-scale tourism infrastructure, capacity building in the tourism sector, awareness raising, dissemination of regulations and laws, standardizing tourism services according to Lao PDR and ASEAN standards, domestic and international tourism promotion activities, improving information systems, designing and publishing tourism promotional materials, and strengthening the business sector.
Dr. Keoudone Butsingkhone further stated that in 2023, Khammouane Province welcomed a total of 365,478 tourists, an increase of approximately 10% compared to 2022. Of these, around 37% were domestic tourists and 63% were international tourists, generating an estimated total revenue of 11,916,760 US dollars. For 2024, the target is to attract over 500,000 tourists to Khammouane Province, with an estimated 35% domestic tourists and 65% international tourists, generating an estimated revenue of more than 15 million US dollars. To effectively implement the Visit Laos Year 2024 activity plan and achieve its objectives, the Chairman of the Visit Laos Year Khammouane Provincial Organizing Committee calls upon all public and private tourism businesses across society, as well as all ethnic groups of Laos, to jointly support and be excellent hosts in welcoming guests from near and far. We urge everyone to focus on improving and creating tourism facilities, developing diverse tourism products and packages in various forms and styles to meet the demands and trends of both domestic and international tourists. Improve the quality of tourism services to be impressive, warm, like a family, fair, and ensure safety, so that visitors, once they come, will want to return again. Pay close attention to intensifying promotion by utilizing both domestic and international media outlets to widely and thoroughly publicize Visit Laos Year 2024 in Khammouane Province, ensuring that tourists are aware of and have easy access to information, thereby enabling Visit Laos Year 2024 to achieve its goals and set targets. Our Khammouane Province is ready to facilitate and warmly welcome all of you to the land of: the majestic Phra That Sikhottabong, Lam Phay (traditional folk music) of Mahaxay, the Great Wall of Phou Khoun Na, Pha Hin Nam Nor, Nam Theun 2 Hydropower Plant, Konglor-Natane Cave (underground river), and the heroic deeds of March 21, 1946.
