Vangvieng Visitors & Income Growing

The recent flooding has not affected revenue earning from tourism in the Vangvieng district of Vientiane province, while the number of tourists has continued to go up.

The restaurants, guesthouses and bungalows along the Nam Xong River have seen very little loss and they are now able to go all out again.

Well-known activities such as tubing, kayaking and boat tours on the Nam Xong have now returned to normal service.

Vangvieng has seen a steady rise in income of 7-8 percent while the number of visitors has risen by 8 percent in the first seven months of the year compared to the same period last year.

Head o f the Vangvieng Tourism Department Mr Bounmy Phommasa explained that the district’s tourism sector can thank th e growing number of tour groups from Asia for the increase, with more Koreans, Chinese, and Thai visitors coming to the town.

Korean tourist numbers especially have increased, up by 60 percent in 2014 compared to 30 percent in 2013.

European visitors were also up 45 percent and those from other countries 10 percent, which shows the town’s tourism industry is springing back to life.

Vangvieng is expecting to welcome around 180,000 people by the end of this year.

Mr Bounmy said the department would work to improve services and tourist attractions, as well as allow more restaurants to open along the Nam Xong River.

The department is also planning to open a zip-line at Tham Lom cave, to go along with other adventure activities such as tubing, kayaking, climbing, cycling, trekking, boat riding and quad bike riding.

These activities will increase the number of attractions on offer, helping to draw even more tourists to Vangvieng and boost business and its income in the years ahead.

Source: Vientiane Times