"H.E.Mr.Somphong Mongkhonvilay"
Minister to the Prime Minister's Office
Chairman of the Lao National Tourism Administration
Tourism policies of Lao PDR :
"The state and society promote, develop and broaden culture, history and nature-based tourism activities. All tourism undertakings detrimental to good national traditions, and in violation of regulations and laws of Lao People's Democratic Republic are prohibited."
Article 30, Lao PDR's institution new issue, declared to use by president decree number 32/PDR dated on 28 May 2003.
"Create Lao PDR to have new unique tourism sites for attracting foreign visitors, as to develop Lao tourism industry for export and make more income for the nation"
(The 5th socioeconomic development plan for 2001-2005).
"Tourism is an important component for opening up the country and a potential revenue source for the country"
(The resolution of the 4th Congress of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party).
"Tourism and service is one of the eight national socioeconomic priority programs" (The second Plenum of the Party Central Committee Fourth Congress).
National Tourism Administration of Lao PDR :
It is the macro-organization on tourism and tourism industry. It is a service agency of the government. Main duties and responsibilities are to prepare the laws, rules and regulations on tourism and the tourism industry, strategy on tourism development, and promotion targeting in the National Socio-Economics Development Plan.
Lao National Tourism Administration also has the right to administer, manage, and monitor the activities of the Tourism Operation Units as the policies and the laws specify.
Main policies are :
The Government will pay a central role in the conservation, protection and development of cultural, natural and historic tourism that is sustainable and involves and benefits local people.
The Government considers tourism as a component of national economic development to encourage production, the service sector, increase foreign exchange earnings, create employment, generate income and raise the living standards of the multi-ethnic Lao people.
The Government and society promote activities such as expositions, traditions and festivals related to the beautiful national cultural and artistic heritage and brave traditions of the multi-ethnic Lao people in order to encourage domestic and international tourism.
The Government respects and protects rights, fairness and safety of tourists.
The Government actively creates convenient conditions and protects individual rights and the national and international investors that are engaged in promoting and investing in the tourism sector.
Lao People's Democratic Republic has opened its doors to welcome toursits from every continent around the world in 1998. The tourism sector plays a significant role in the socio-economic development of the Lao PDR. Laos is blessed with overwhelming and unexploited nature pleasing every tourist who has come here.
ASEAN : "The New Tourism Landscape" is the new campaign to attract tourism. We welcome you to what Laos has to offer, development potentials of the nation entering the new century.
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