November 06, 2017

“Laos Simply Beautiful” showcased at Asia’s biggest travel fair

By:  Vientiane Times, October 30, 2017

Laos Simply Beautiful logo

VIENTIANE - A private and public effort under the leadership of the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism successfully showcased the strengths of Laos’ tourism potential at this year’s ITB Asia in Singapore.

During the three-day event from October 25 to 27, Laos presented an assortment of interesting tour options while presenting the fascinating ethnic, natural and cultural diversity of the country stretching from the timeless Luang Prabang to the charms of the south.

In its 10th edition this year the ITB Asia attracted close to 11,000 delegates and featured a line up of more than 900 exhibitors and speakers. At the exhibition grounds, the Lao booth garnered a lot of attention. Through its unique nature-based design, the booth showcased sustainable tourism as its basis.

Decorated with embroidery and handicrafts featuring ethnic motifs and beautiful designs the booth was ideal for attracting visitors.

Laos is an eye-opening destination for first-time visitors and jaded travellers alike. Travel and tour companies primarily seeking to offer a unique unexplored experience were present in high numbers to learn about the offers of Lao tourism companies.

The ITB Asia also provided a platform for the upcoming ‘Visit Laos Year 2018’ campaign at a destination showcase presentation.

Director of the Marketing Activities Division at the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, on behalf of the Lao delegation, Mr Kettasone Sundara, highlighted the unique and easy lifestyle of Laos.

He told trade visitors about the well-known traditional festivals in Laos, particularly those scheduled for Visit Laos Year 2018.  In a presentation Mr Kettasone took the audience on a virtual tour through the different provinces featuring these festivals. He invited travellers, businesses, hotels, and tourists on a familiarisation trip to Laos to explore a land that is relatively uncharted by stepping into untouched nature, and to absorb the rich cultural history and traditions that make Laos inimitable.

A three-day trade show featured the products and services of Crowne Plaza Vientiane, Dansavanh Nam Ngum Resort, EXO Travel, Green Discovery, Inthira Group, Vila Shanti, Vila Maly, Visit Asia Travel, and Trails of Indo China. Participating businesses conducted 264 productive business-to-business meetings with buyers and tour operators.

On October 26, a networking event was held in cooperation with the Mekong Tourism Coordination Office to announce Visit Laos Year 2018, as well as the initiative to promote the Greater Mekong Subregion as a tourism destination through its collaborative social media marketing initiative called Mekong Moments.

At the networking event, the inaugural Mekong Mini Movie Festival was also announced, which will be featured at the ITB Berlin in 2018.

This unique and productive demonstration of Laos in view of the upcoming Visit Laos Year 2018 was made possible by substantial technical, financial, and in-kind contributions from Lao Airlines, the GMS Tourism Infrastructure Form Inclusive Growth Project of the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, the EU Switch Asia II funded Luang Prabang - Handle with Care Project, Japan External Trade Organisation, Silk Air, and the German Development Cooperation project  (GIZ) “Regional Economic Integration of Laos into Asean, Trade and Entrepreneurship.

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