Xaysomboun to develop additional tourist sites

Xaysomboun is set to have new tourist sites to attract more visitors to the province, with concerned sectors giving their final opinion on a feasibility study for tourism development at Phou Bia Mountain under the KPG project.
A meeting on developing the new sites was held in Xaysomboun province’s Information, Culture and Tourism Department on Monday. It was chaired by Vice Governor of Xaysomboun, Mr Deng Pathoumthong, and was attended by officials and representatives from the Khamphay Sana Group.
The meeting discussed the merits of the feasibility study, especially the economic and technical study of the Phu Bia tourism development project.
“This meeting is a very important part of this development project as it is the final discussion on thr feasibility study at the provincial level,” President of the Khamphay Sana Group, Mr Khamphay Somsana said.
“We completely studied both geography and biodiversity for over a year. If related sectors agree with our feasibility study, we will send it to the centre so that they can re-check all the information,” he added.
“As soon as the government approves our project, we can start the development,” he said.
The project aims to develop tourism in the region to international standards along with environmental protection and rural development.
After receiving approval from the government to operate the project, the company will make investments and cooperate with relevant sectors at the central and provincial levels.
“This project will become one of the main tourist sites in the region, which can attract travellers from across the country and from overseas. It will also create jobs for local people so they will able to improve their lives,” Mr Khamphay said. 
The project will be a key measure to attract more visitors to the province, especially to the Phou Bia site.
The project is located in Anouvong district of Xaysomboun and the developers expect to spend about US$500 million in  developing tourism activities alongside environmental conservation measures.
The development will be divided into two phrases, with the first phrase to be implemented during 2020-2025. In this phase, the foothills and elevated locations at Bhu Bia mountain will be developed for hiking, zip lining, mountain climbing, cycling, camping and homestay.
The second phase during 2026-2032 will develop adventure and modern tourism activities, including an amusement park, five-star hotel, and a cable car.
Phou Bia is the highest mountain in Laos and the area around it is rich in natural resources, but the living standards of most local residents are low.
A Memorandum of Understanding on the feasibility study was signed last year between the President of the Khamphay Sana Group, Mr Khamphay Somsana, and the Director of Xaysomboun province’s Planning and Investment Department, Mr Chanthanom Vongsomchith.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update June 11, 2020)