The overwhelming majority of travellers visit only several star destinations like Vientiane, Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang totally overseeing other regions that often can offer a variety of unique activities and experiences. In a bid to promote other parts of the country, 12 representatives of travel industry from Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, China, Japan and South Korea have been recently invited by the Lao government to Bolikhamxay and Khammouane provinces.
Visitors were shown some of the less known attractions and encouraged to include these locations in their package tours. Bolikhamxay and Khammouane provinces are often skipped by tourists.
Bolikhamxay is one of the central provinces of the country. It is home to Nakai–Nam Theun Bioderversity Concervation Area, the third largest protected area in Laos which it shares with the neighbouring Khammouane province. The conservation area comprises one of the most pristine wildernesses remaining in Southeast Asia. There are two important pilgrimage centres, Wat Phabath and Wat Phonsanh temples in Bolikhamxay. They are also famous for beautiful murals and great panoramas over Mekong.
Khammouane is where the Great Wall of Laos is located. It stretches 15 km and was constructed during the Sikhottabong Empire in the 19th century. Thanks to the forested mountainous terrain the province is dotted with numerous waterfalls.
Laos Encourages Tourists to Visit Destinations Less Known
News in Asia
Tourists visiting Laos tend not to make a second trip to the country. Returning visitors account for 7.9 percent of all overseas travellers. And Laos would like to change it.