Lao Association of Travel Agents-LATA Newsletter January 2008

ASIAN travel agents and tour operators represent the largest group of buyers scheduled to attend the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) 2008 in Bangkok from January 18 to 26.

Of the 650 registered buyers, 294 are from Asia, including 47 from Singapore, 38 from Malaysia, 34 from India, 31 from Indonesia, 21 from Vietnam and 43 from Thailand. Another 239 buyers are from Europe and are from the UK (48), Germany (46), the Netherlands (20) and France (15). There are 39 registered buyers from the US and 31 from Australia.

Tourism Authority of

Thailand

(TAT) governor, Ms Phornsiri Manoharn, said: "This selection of buyers reflects the rapid growth taking place in intra-regional travel, one of the most important trends taking place today.

"More growth is certain as Asia-Pacific governments push regional social and economic integration and liberalise movements of people and goods by boosting transportation infrastructure, especially low-cost airlines."

As for sellers, the biggest number are from Thailand the host country, (184), followed by Indonesia (61), Malaysia (56), Singapore (25), the Philippines (17), Vietnam (17), Myanmar (nine), Brunei and Cambodia (seven each) and Laos (five).

Travex at ATF 2008 will be held at Challenger 2, IMPACT Muang Thong Thani, from January 21 to 25 January. The ASEAN Tourism Conference will be held at the same venue on January 23.

Source: TTG

Lao carrier adds Luang Prabang-Kunming route
Beijing (2008-01-10)

LAO Airlines has launched a new air route between Luang Prabang in Laos and Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province in China.

According to the airline, the flight would run every Monday and Friday. Lao Airlines currently operates four flights a week between Vientiane and Kunming on the three aircraft it owns, although there were plans to purchase one more aircraft in the near future.
Luang Prabang Provincial Tourism Administration deputy head, Mr Khamtanh Somphanvilay, said the opening of the new route was evidence of the co-operative and positive relationship that existed between Laos and China, and would bring socio-economic benefits to both cities.

At least three Mekong region countries are enjoying double digit growth and that should continue in 2008

Despite a gloomy economic outlook, due to rising fuel prices and concerns over climate change, Mekong region countries can look forward to healthy tourism growth rates in 2008.

Overall, the region’s tourism registers a steady performance, while individual member countries, with the exception of Thailand and Myanmar, can confidently forecast double digit growth in 2008.

Thailand

is expected to close 2007 with 14.3 million visits, an increase of less than 4% and possibly 500,000 visits off target.

Of all the six Mekong region countries, Myanmar stands shell-shocked, having suffered unparalleled losses since the military junta brutally attacked Buddhist monks on the streets of Yangon, last September.

Rising stars of 2007, in terms of growth rate, are Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. Lao National Administration of Tourism projects 1.4 million tourist arrivals this year,

Data shows that during the first nine months of 2007, Vientiane welcomed 545, 291 arrivals, or a 11% increase over 490,349 arrivals last year. The key tourist destination, Luang Prabang, enjoyed a 32% jump from 28,087 to 36,981 arrivals during January to October.

Lao Association of Travel Agents president and Diethelm Travel Laos managing director, Vayakorn Bodhisane, said, awareness of the destination Lao has been increasing in overseas markets. According to Ms Vayakorn, the average growth for inbound tourists to Laos this year stood around 20%.

“Asian tourists from Japan showed a promising performance due to the new visa exemption. The same scheme is under negation between Laos and South Korea, so we are hoping that this will result in a strong growth in arrivals from that market.”

Cambodia

welcomed 1,567,399 international visitors during the first 10 months of this year, an 18.54% increase compared with the same period last year.

Siem Reap. alone, welcomed 890,621 arrivals or a 36.35% jump over 2006’s figures. Phnom Penh and other destinations attracted another 676,778 arrivals or a 43.18% increase.

First Travel managing director, Tui Rutten, believes direct air links to markets in China and South Korea were the main contributing factors to success.

In contrast with its neighbours, Myanmar’s Ministry of Hotels and Tourism reported arrivals through Yangon plunged 228% in the month of October, due to the military crack down against Buddhist monks in late September.

According to the report, tourist arrivals dropped 82% from 12,365 arrivals, in October 2006, to 2,178 arrivals, last October. Business linked to tour packages dropped from 4,910 to 690 trips, a 85% decrease.

Vietnam

recently celebrated its 4th million international arrival, earlier this month, representing a year-on-year increase of 18%. It expects to receive 4.3 million visitors fulfilling its 2007 target.

According to Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, foreign tourists to

Vietnam

increased to nearly 3.6 million in 2006, compared with just 1 million 10 years ago. The figure reached nearly 4 million by the end of November, representing a year-on-year increase of 18%.

Vietnam

is strengthening marketing overseas. Saigon Tourist, which controls most tourist enterprises in Ho Chi Minh City, has opened an office in the UK.

Organizers of this's Elephant Festival, to be held in February, expect more than 15,000 visitors to attend the parade of 70 elephants in Paklai district, Xayaboury province.

During the first Elephant Festival, held over two days in February this year in Hongsa district of Xayaboury province, close to 50 elephants took part, mostly from Viengkeo village, the largest population centre in Hongsa district, and more than 10,000 local and foreign visitors attended the event.

Next year's festival will run for three days, from February 15 to 17, as a joint project between ElefantAsia and the Lao National Tourism Administration.

“Our first festival was such a success, and attracted so many people, that we decided to make it a three-day event next year,” said ElefantAsia's Programme Manager, Mr Sebastien Duffillot, at a press conference at the Lao Journalists' Association yesterday.

“The event will not only aim to raise awareness of the importance of protecting elephants, but also to promote tourism and benefit local villagers, who will prepare home-stays, food and local products to sell to visitors,” he said, adding that the festival's primary purpose was to rekindle an interest in elephants, and to encourage their care and preservation.

During the festival, visitors will be able to take elephant rides around the village and explore the natural surroundings. Trainers will demonstrate how elephants take part in logging projects, and there will also be a short circus performance .

The 70 elephants will be blessed by monks in a traditional baci ceremony, and experts from organisations such as the Wildlife Conservation Society will give a lecture on elephant conservation.

Gender awareness will also be taken into consideration. “There was a competition last year to select three male elephants as the most gentle and friendly, but this year both female and male elephants will be chosen,” Mr Duffillot said.

Visitors can travel to the festival site by boat and bus from Vientiane and from Luang Prabang province, and 12 guesthouses will be available, as well as home-stay accommodation costing 25,000 kip a night.

Laos national carrier expands with new services, new airplanes and online booking at their new website.

Lao Airlines is launching a new Luang Prabang – Kunming service today, 4 January. The airline is using an ATR-72 aircraft for the twice weekly flights that depart Luang Prabang every Monday and Friday.

Previously, travellers had to take a 24-hour bus ride between the two destinations.

Earlier this week, the airline increased its Vientiane – Kunming service from three to four weekly flights onboard a 56-seat MA60.

In early November, the airline took delivery of its third MA60, and a fourth is expected to arrive by September 2008 to operate new services such as Savannakhet – Bangkok and Pakse – Danang.

The national carrier currently has two 70-seat ATR-72s, and plans to add one more in next year’s plan.