FOUR MORTHERNMOST PROVINCES ARE READY TO ENHANCE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT

Vientiane, June 7 (KPL) - Four northernmost provinces of Luang Namtha, Phongsaly, Oudomsay and Bokeo are ready to join hands in tourism development sites and other facilities to handle with the increasing number of tourists following succeeding in the past cooperation. The agreement was made at the second meeting of four northernmost provincial tourism sectors held late last month, in Bokeo province. Four provinces have expressed a satisfactory in the previous cooperation in tourism development plan, so far. Last year, the infrastructure of four northernmost provinces, R3 Road which is a north and south economic corridor and an important tourism route have been improved and renovated, and Luang Namtha airport has also been upgraded as a regional one. Besides many strategic route in four provinces have received renovation leading to the transports have improved including navigation and aviation. And other tourism services have improved such as hotel, guesthouse and restaurants. The meeting also released number of tourists visited Laos last year accounting for 1.6 million of tourists which increased by 34 percent compared to 2006 period, and drew income of US$ 233 million. This figure covered 8 percent of GDP. Last year, over 300,000 tourists visited four northernmost provinces which it increased by 15 percent compared to 2006 period.Mr Somphong Mongkhounvilay, Minister to the Prime Minister's Office and President of the National Tourism Authority, and the heads of the tourism services of four northern provinces and other officials attended the event.