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The Lao tourism industry has seen rapid growth over the past five years, creating a huge potential for the hospitality industry in the country.
“We have seen the growth of the tourism industry in Laos therefore we decided to invest more than US$50 million in the hotel project,” Krittaphong Group Director, Ms Orlathay Santikhongkha said in an exclusive interview with Vientiane Times at the end of last month.
The interview took place after the company welcomed Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong and foreign diplomats visiting the construction project of the Landmark Mekong Riverside Hotel at Mekong river front of Don Chan in Vientiane.
According to a report from the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, from January to March this year Laos welcomed 846,564 international tourists, up 11.34 percent from the same period last year. The country expects to receive about 2.8 million visitors in total this fiscal year and generate revenue of US$427 million.
According to the first quar ter report of the tourism officials, Asean countries contributed 78.28 percent of all international arrivals, up 10.92 percent with 662,713 visits. The largest source country, Thailand, continued to grow at 11.04 percent with 479,323 visitors. The second top source country, Vietnam supplied 169,501 tourists, an increase of 9.6 percent. Contributions from the other ASEAN countries were very small, ranging fr om 110 to 4,400 visitors.
Lao tourism officials forecast that the number of international tourist arrivals will continue to increase over the next five years as the country has a policy to welcome more foreign investors while a number of tourists want to explore the natural beauty of Laos.
The hotel is one of the most luxurious venues in Vientiane, which the government plans to use to accommodate delegates and officials who will attend the 9th Asia-Europe meeting and other related meetings in Vientiane at the end of this year.
According to company officials, project progress is 70 percent while construction of the hotel structure is now 90 percent completed and expected to be ready and officially open to the public before the international conference takes place. At present, the building contractor is speeding up the installation of water and air conditioning pipes in the hotel building.
To make sure that the hotel will be ready for the 9th Asia-Europe meeting, over next four months, the contractors will complete and furnish half of the hotel rooms with the rest to be completed after the international conference is over.
Ms Orlathay said that once construction of the Landmark Mekong Riverside Hotel is completed, the hotel will be one of the luxurious places to stay in most Vientiane. The hotel will be equipped with all facilities needed to meet international five star hotel standards.
She said that the hotel management had discussions with Pakpasak Technical College and other schools in Vientiane to supply skilled labour to work in the hotel. The hotel management will also invite a number of hotel specialists from China to train the Lao staff so that they learn how to manage the hotel and welcome guests.
“At first, there will be both Lao and Chinese staff working at the hotel,” she said, adding that after the Lao employees had been trained and developed quality working skills, they will be promoted to hold more important positions.
One of the hotel’s unique attractions is that it is located along the Mekong river, which flows 4,800 km from China, through Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia before reaching the south China sea in Vietnam. The Mekong River is one of the cleanest rivers in the world, which helps to attract tourists walking or jogging along the riverside to breathe the fresh air.
Most of those who visit Vientiane like to spend time near the Mekong riverside especially at sunset to take pictures and experience the peaceful lifestyle of Lao people.
The Mekong River is not just a mighty river in Asia but also serves as the border between Laos and Thailand. The river creates a uniqu e relationship for the people who live along its banks on both sides with Lao and Thai people there sharing a similar language and culture.
Another attraction of the hotel is that guests who stay there can look at Thailand through its windows as the country is only about 1.5 km across the river.
The hotel is also located next to the International Residence Centre, which is now under construction and will be ready for the Asian and European delegates at the end of this year. The International Residence Centre is part of the US$600 million Vientiane New World Project, which is operated under a joint venture between the Lao Krittaphong Group and Chinese CAMCE.
The Vientiane New World also consists of business and entertainment centres, which the joint venture is committed to complete within the next six to eight years.
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