Tourism Development Situation in Laos

SUMMARY OF CHAPTER I

Chapter I has outlined the basic concepts related to tourism such as the concept of tourism, tourism industry, tourism products, tourism market and the role of tourism in socio-economic development. In addition, there is content about the development practices and development experiences of some countries and has made us see that tourism development is an important trend of countries, especially developing countries. Tourism development plays an important role in the socio-economic development strategy of countries in general and of the Lao People's Democratic Republic in particular.

The systematic presentation of the theoretical basis and practical development of the world tourism industry as well as of countries in the region can draw some lessons to serve as a basis for analyzing the resources and current situation of the development of the Lao tourism industry in the past, identifying the contradictions and challenges as well as opportunities. Thereby, to build the orientation of developing the Lao tourism industry towards environmental protection and sustainability.

These contents are the basis for assessing the current state of tourism development in the province and are also the foundation for orienting scientific solutions. In addition, Chapter I also presents the experiences of countries with developed tourism industries so that we can learn selectively and apply appropriately to the current situation of our province.

CHAPTER 2: TOURISM STATUS IN CHAMPASAK PROVINCE

2.1 Tourism development situation in Laos

The Lao People's Democratic Republic is a country with potential in developing tourism according to its own characteristics. That is Cultural Tourism and Natural Tourism. Therefore, in recent years, Laos has had better development in building organizations, improving laws and policies to increase capacity in tourism business leadership and management, and creating favorable conditions for improving service levels and promoting tourism resources. This has created initial conditions to attract more and more tourists to visit Laos.

The tourism industry in Laos has made progress. From an economic sector playing an important role in the socio-economic structure, tourism has now been identified as one of the key economic sectors in the period of industrialization and modernization of the country. Tourism development not only contributes to the implementation of the goals and strategic orientations of socio-economic development but also contributes to Laos' development and expansion of foreign relations in the trend of globalization, effectively implementing the Party's open foreign policy. Tourism development is also an opportunity to introduce the country, people and culture of the Lao People's Democratic Republic.

Table 2.1: Number of international visitors to Laos from 2000-2008.

Unit: number of guests

Year

2000	2005	2006	2007	2008
Total	737,208	1,095,315	1,215,106	1,623,943	1,631,021
East Asia - Pacific Positive	604,254	899,273	1,008,663	1,406,456	1,418,782
Europe	84,462	131,326	138,935	147,667	140,562
America	42,111	60,061	60,883	61,463	63,258
Africa and Middle East East	4,381	4,655	6,625	8,357	8,421

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Source: Statistics of Lao Tourism Administration in 2009

Through table 2.2 we see that the source of international visitors increased strongly and stably every year, especially in the period 2000 - 2008. The average growth rate is 9%/year.

According to the purpose of the trip, tourists mainly travel for relaxation and cultural exploration. Thus, we can see that the international tourist market for relaxation tourism is an object that needs attention, especially as terrorism is increasing globally, but Laos is considered a safe and friendly destination. Political and social instability in countries in the region is often due to religious or ethnic conflicts. Compared to other countries in the region, the political and social situation in Laos is always stable. This is truly a competitive advantage for other destinations in the region in attracting international visitors to Laos and Champasak province in particular.

In recent times, when mentioning Champasak, people often talk a lot about tourism activities, a place that people often think of when they want to travel to Laos. Tourism is a key economic sector of the province besides industry, agriculture, Champasak tourism is standing

before a great opportunity. With the attention from the leaders of the provincial Party Committee, the provincial People's Committee on investment and development, under the management and direction of the Department of Tourism, tourism activities have developed. Now, in Champasak province, it has been effectively exploiting its potential strengths.

2.2 Overview of Champasak province tourism industry

2.2.1 Natural conditions

Champasak Province is a southwestern province of Laos (Pakse is the provincial capital). Champasak Province is located from 13˚55” - 15˚ 22” North latitude and from 100˚ 13” - 106˚55” East longitude. The North borders Saravanh Province; the East borders Xekong and Attapeu provinces; the South borders Cambodia with Nong Nok Khiene border gate.

- Dong Kralor and the West border with Thailand has Vang Tau - Xong Mek border gate is an international border gate (See Appendix 1). The total natural area of the province is 15,350 km 2 . The terrain of the province is divided into two regions such as the plain and the plateau, with the Mekong River dividing the territory into two banks from North to South. Champasak province is about 750 km from the capital Viengchan, this location is the major economic center of the southern provinces of Laos. The province has 10 units

Administratively, it includes: Pakse provincial capital, Phonthong district, Paksong, Bachieng, Xanasomboun, Pathoumphone, Khong, Mounlapamok, Soukhuma and Champasak district.

Climate: Champasak has a tropical climate with two seasons: winter (from October to June) and summer (from July to the end of September). Due to the location of the province divided into two regions, the climate of the two regions is different: The highland region has an average temperature of 20˚C - 21˚C, hottest in April and coldest in January. The average annual rainfall varies from 3,000 mm 3 to 4,000 mm 3 with 80% humidity. The plain region has a temperature of 27˚C, hottest in April - May and coldest in January. The average annual rainfall is 2,279 mm 3 . Due to such climatic conditions, the number of tourists visiting

Champasak is most visited in winter because this season has very favorable travel conditions for tourists.

2.2.2 Cultural and social characteristics of Champasak province

Champasak, before the 14th century, was considered the center of the Khmer empire. From the 14th century, the Khmer empire began to weaken and the warlord Fa Ngum gained independence and built the Lan Xang kingdom for the Lao tribes. In 1707, the Lan Xang kingdom disintegrated and was divided into 3 kingdoms, the Luangphrabang kingdom in the North, the Viengchan kingdom in the Central region, the current capital Viengchan, and the Champasak kingdom in the South, the current Champasak province.

The Kingdom of Champasak (1713-1946), which flourished in the early 18th century but was reduced to a vassal state of Siam before the turn of the 19th century. Under French rule, the kingdom became an administrative bloc and many royal privileges were stripped away. The Kingdom of Champasak was abolished in 1946 when the Kingdom of Laos was established.

After many years of war, in 1975 Laos was liberated, Champasak gradually restored its socio-economic and cultural development, becoming the economic and political center of the southern provinces of Laos. Pakse is a southern town of Laos, located at the confluence of two rivers, the Mekong and the Xedon. This is the provincial capital of Champasak province and the gateway to the Bolovens plateau. Previously, this town was the capital of the Champasak kingdom. Since the bridge over the Mekong River (2000) connecting with Thailand's Ubon province, Pakse has become a commercial economic center of Laos.

Laos is a small country with three major ethnic groups: Lao Lum, Lao Thong and Lao Sung, including 49 tribes. The Lao Lum group accounts for the largest proportion of the population, but the solidarity of the Lao people is very high. The ethnic groups that settled first as well as the ethnic groups that came later all call themselves Lao in general as well as

Champasak province people. Due to the many tribes, a rich and diverse culture has been formed and developed, a heroic historical tradition with many cultural relics, diverse and unique customs and practices have become humanistic tourism resources.

Champasak is known as the land of civilization, the culture of Laos as well as the culture of the Champasak people has been influenced by Indian culture since the first century. Due to the influence of Indian culture, the Lao people have adopted two religions, Hinduism and Buddhism. But the Lao people still have their own unique culture. Through the history of development, the Lao people have built a unique, distinctive, rich, and diverse culture and civilization that is worthy of pride. Through many periods of kings, these historical and cultural developments are reflected in the system of cultural relics, the people have steadfastly resisted all domination and oppression to survive until today.

Champasak people are civilized, kind, speak loudly and clearly, have a long tradition of learning and each person contains the profound characteristics of Champasak culture. Champasak University was newly established in the early 21st century, including many faculties: Faculty of Science, Faculty of Economics, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, Faculty of Education, Faculty of Law and a system of colleges and vocational high schools for the southern provinces of Laos.

2.2.3 Tourism resources of Champasak province

Champasak province has diverse, rich and unique tourism resources, including both natural and human resources.

Although the area of the province is not very large, Champasak province contains an extremely rich source of tourism resources such as: the 4,000 islands region (this place is located in the Mekong River with many islands close together with 4,000 islands, so this area is called the 4,000 islands region), Vatphu temple, a world cultural heritage, and cultural craft villages...

In particular, Champasak province is located in the center of the UNESCO-recognized world cultural heritage of Vatphu Champasak temple, dating from the 6th to the 14th century. This is the only unique art work in Laos, highly attractive to sightseeing and historical research tourism.

♦ Distribution of tourism resources:

The terrain of Champasak province includes both plains and plateaus, and the Mekong River runs through it from North to South. Based on the tourism development plan of Champasak Tourism Department, the landscape has been divided into 4 tourist groups, 1 group is located in the plateau area and 3 groups are located in the Champasak plain area (See Appendix 2).

1) Boraven Plateau Tourist Area : Paksong District, also known as Dong Borlaven, is 1,500 m above sea level. It is a thousand-year-old volcano, so it has fertile soil, cool climate, and favorable weather. Boraven Plateau is an ideal area for growing industrial crops such as coffee, tea, rubber, cinchona and other fruit trees. On this plateau, there are many dense forests that are green all year round, where there are wild animals of southern Laos, especially deer. This plateau is also a water storage and water source for small rivers such as Champee, Banglieng... Due to the geographical location of this area, it has become a famous tourist area of the province for relaxation and sightseeing in many places such as Thevada Mountain, Phan Waterfall, Pha Suam Waterfall, Nhuong Waterfall... You can travel in a day from the center of the province to these tourist areas.

2) Pakse tourist area : This tourist area includes 3 districts of the province such as Pakse district, Phonthong district and Xanasomboun district.

Pakse is the provincial capital and the center of tourist groups. Pakse is the oldest district in the province, the largest in the province, with beautiful landscapes. Pakse is divided into two parts by the Xe Don River running through it and meeting the Mekong River in the center.

the center of the district. It can be seen as a T-shape, the top of the T is the Mekong River, the bottom of the T is the Xe Don River, making Pakse have a beautiful landscape in a favorable environment of infrastructure, large ancient pagodas, old French houses. In addition, food service establishments, storage, information technology services, economic and commercial centers are mostly in Pakse.

Phonthong has the Mekong River as its border with Pakse and Xanasomboun districts, there are many small mountains, especially Salau Mountain, which lies along the Mekong River opposite Pakse District. Salau Mountain has a long history. Salau is the name of a famous Lao fairy tale. During the war with France, this mountain was the site of a small French airport. There is also an old temple that has just been discovered, and this temple is currently being rebuilt. When standing at this temple, we can see the entire Pakse District. The other side of the Mekong River is being built as a resort.

Xanasomboun is located on the left side of the Mekong River, especially with Xiengthong National Park. This national park has a long high mountain range along the Mekong River, Khong Mountain. Khong Mountain is a high mountain with many kinds of green trees. On the top of this mountain, there is a large stone pillar from the past one hundred thousand years with a strange shape compared to a normal stone pillar, looking at it over and over again, it seems to be artificially created by nature, so the people call it Hin Khong. Besides Hin Khoong, there are many other stone pillars shaped like turtles, mushrooms and many other strangely shaped pillars; especially there is a stone pillar of the Khmer people. Because this area is located in a high position, it is suitable for sightseeing, resting, camping of young students to do scientific research, in the afternoon you can see the sunset clearly, which is a wonderful image for tourists.

3) Khong tourist area : This tourist area is located at the southern end of the province bordering the Kingdom of Cambodia. The Mekong River runs through this area, creating many large and small islands (up to four thousand islands). According to Lao people, this place is called "Siphandon" with 4,000 islands. The largest island is Khong island, 24 km long.

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