CLMV countries discuss regional tourism development

Tourism officials of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam (CLMV) gathered here to discuss the development of regional tourism products in the four countries, the Lao state-run news agency KPL reported on Thursday.

The two-day workshop, which ended Thursday, aimed to create a network of information exchange on tourism for state, private companies, experts and international organizations to ensure that Lao tourism is integrated into the regional tourism market, said Lao Deputy Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Bouangeun Saphouvong to KPL.

The number of international tourists visiting Laos decreased by 10 percent from over 4.68 million in 2015 to 4.2 million last year.

The reduction in the number of visitors has been attributed to the decline in the number of Thai and Vietnamese visitors which usually share 50 percent of the number of foreign visitors to Laos.

Meanwhile, the number of visitors from Australia, Germany, Russia and Italy increased in number.

According to Project Director of the German Federal Enterprise for International Cooperation's (GIZ) Initiative for ASEAN Integration Kim Nguyen Van, many tourists did not see Laos as a single travel destination but perceived the country as part of a regional tourism destination, together with its neighboring countries including Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar and Vietnam.

The improvement of the existing and the development of additional regional tourism products will play a key role in this endeavour, Kim Nguyen Van was quoted by KPL on Thursday as saying.

The tourism industry is one of the most important and fastest growing industries in the Laos, representing 14 percent of its overall GDP and 12 percent of the workforce in the country, according to KPL. Endit