ASEAN Ecotourism Forum Opens in Pakse Laos

Pakse, Champasak (Laos PDR) – June 22, 2016 (travelindex.com) – Champassak provincial Governor Dr Bounthong Divixay, has joined tourism chiefs from other ASEAN member countries in the first-ever ASEAN Ecotourism Forum 2016 that opened in Champasak, Laos. The event is being organised by the Lao PDR government in its role as the chairman of ASEAN in 2016. Lao PDR has placed a great focus on ecotourism over the past 12 years. In 2004, the Lao National Tourism Administration issued a National Ecotourism Strategy and Action Plan.

Opening the event, Lao Minister of Culture, Information and Tourism Bosengkham Vongdara described the forum as a good chance for the association’s member countries to foster cooperation in order to realise the ASEAN vision 2025 under the theme ‘Turning Vision into Reality for a Dynamic Asean Community’ as well as the ASEAN tourism strategy 2016-2025.

Prof. Bosengkham added “By 2025, Asean will be a quality tourism destination offering a unique, diverse Asean experience, and will be committed to responsible, sustainable, inclusive and balanced tourism development, so as to contribute significantly to the socio-economic well-being of Asean people”.

During the two-day event, themed “ASEAN Without Border: Roadmap for Strategic Development of Ecotourism Clusters and Tourism Corridors”, participants will share their practical experience in developing ecotourism.

The tourism chiefs will organise a roundtable to agree and sign the Pakse Declaration, a document reflecting their common desire to boost ecotourism growth and form ecotourism clusters in the region.

At the same time, a green tourism fair will be held, featuring more than 80 display booths, to introduce tours and services as well as ecotourism programmes of Southern Laos, Champasak province and other localities.

Contact information:
ASEAN Ecotourism Forum 2016
Room 406, 4th Floor, Tourism Building
Lane Xang Avenue, Vientiane, Lao PDR
Tel: +856 30 582 4071
Fax: +856 21 217 910
Email: aeflaos2016@gmail.com
Web: www.aef2016laos.com

Mrs Phonemaly Inthaphome
Deputy Director-General
Tourism Development Department
Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism
Lao PDR

Ms Phonemany Soukhathammawong
Deputy Director
Tourism Planning & Development Division
Tourism Development Department
Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism
Lao PDR