Public and Private Sector Reviewed 2022 National DMN Action Plan and Plan for 2023
On 18 November 2022, Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism (MICT) in collaboration with Lao National of Commerce and Industry (LNCCI) organized the National Destination Management Network or DMN Meeting at the Lao Plaza Hotel, Vientiane Capital.
The meeting was chaired by Ms. Phonemaly Inthaphome, Head of National DMN Board, Director General, Tourism Development Department, MICT, Second GMS Tourism Infrastructure for Inclusive Growth Project (TIIGP 2) Manager and Mr. Inthy Deuansavanh, Deputy Head of National DMN Board, LNCCI Board, LNCCI Tourism Committee Vice President.
There were DMN board, members, secretariat and participants from public and private sector, projects and international organizations in tourism sector participated the meeting.
After the 2022 national DMN action plan was reviewed, 2023 action plan was discussed which can be summarized as follows:
Tourism Marketing
– Develop Lao Tourism Campaign for regional and international visitors. The campaign will be integrated with 2024 Visit Laos Year.
– Continue ລາວທ່ຽວລາວ Lao Thiao Lao Campaign
– Organize tourism events: Lao food festival, Made in Laos, sport events, ATF 2024 in Laos, Lao Handicraft festival, etc.
– Participate tourism events and travel trade fairs: ATF 2023 in Indonesia, Eco-tourism network, B2C roadshow in neighboring countries, WTM in London, etc.
– Organize FAM Trip for regional journalists, influencers, international TAs / TOs from EU and the region.
Tourism Product Development
– Community based tourism development: provide training for communities on social and environment practice, green pilot project in tourism supply chain, support implementation of ASEAN Homestay and Community Based Tourism (CBT) Standards
– Gastronomy tourism development
– Environment: Improve landfill in Vang Vieng, implement ASEAN Clean Tourist City Standard, raise awareness on waste reduction for businesses in Vang Vieng, recycle, organize an event to promote green services and develop green transition tool kits.
Tourism management
– Establish Laos Tourism Promotion Board: draft decree and get it approved
– Update Lao tourism law, decree and ministerial agreement: Lao tourism law, decree on tourism development fund, decree on tourist city and tourist attraction, ministerial agreement on tourism in national project area
– Tourism development policy in national protected areas
Skills development
– Launch new project: Skills for Tourism, Agriculture and Forestry
– Training on Travelife and Lasting Laos
Southern Laos tourism products / itinerary, including issues and proposed solution from previous workshop was presented by Ms Champhone Vongsa, Head of National DMN Secretariat, Director of Tourism Planning and Development Division, Tourism Development Department, MICT
Homestay and Community Based Tourism (CBT) development was discussed, it was agreed that collaboration with private sector in an early stage is crucial in order to make sure that the products meet the market demand.
Some of the issues from summarize of key issues in Laos tourism sector were discussed as follows:
– Update the fee and services related to environment impact defined in legislation no. 002 and decree on preservation areas no. 134
– Establish Laos tourism promotion board
– Visa policy to attract target markets
– Regional and long haul flight promotion policy
Results from the discuss were brought up in the afternoon meeting with relevant ministries and private sector.
