[HD video below]
The recently established Laos Tourism Marketing Board (LTMB) is
taking shape and moving ahead with developing and implementing the
tourism marketing strategy for Laos.
The President and directors, joined by the
Chairman of the Laos National Tourism Administration (LNTA) and the
Chairman of the Laos National Chamber of Commerce and Industry
(LNCCI) will present the objectives and plans today in Vientiane,
Don Chan Palace Hotel.
Established by LNTA and private sector
partners in July 2010, the LTMB aims to forge a partnership
between the public and private sectors to globally market Laos
tourism, and develop and implement a long-term tourism development
strategy.
LNTA Vice-Chairman Soukaseum Bodhisane, who
serves as LTMB President, said “With private sector participation,
the LTMB will complement our marketing activities and strategic
direction. We are now able to work very closely together and
benefit from the expertise and knowledge of the private sector and
other ministries.”
The LTMB plans to finalise its marketing
strategy by April 2011. According to this strategy Laos will
promote mainly in priority markets such as Europe (France, UK,
Germany) and Asia Pacific (Japan, Korea, Australia) in order to
increase tourist spending and length of stay.
Nature and adventure lovers and active tourists
from these and other markets will be targeted, mainly through the
internet. For this purpose a new website with all products and
services will be developed and various internet and social media
campaigns are suggested.
Public relations activities are also high on the
agenda. The board is currently selecting a French firm to
implement a pilot project to promote Laos in France.
LTMB Director Alain Daout said, “PR activities
will initially target the French market with the aim of becoming
better known and promote the key attributes that attract tourist
to the country. In a second phase these promotional activities
will be extended to all target markets and thereby move Laos as a
tourist destination to a new level.”
To fund the LTMB’s initiatives a new system to
collect fees from tourists will be implemented this year and the
initial budget for the first year is expected to be confirmed soon
with the LNTA Minister, Chairman Somphong Mongkhonvilay.
At the ATF in January, earlier this year, ASIA
Travel Tips.com spoke with Mr. Sounh Manivong, the Director
General of the Laos National Tourism Administration. Watch the
interview below:
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