Saravan gears up for tourism revival

Saravan officials are restoring tourist attractions and plan to build visitor facilities at popular destinations such as Tad Lo and Tad Hang waterfalls and Tham Phouphasouk cave.
With a view to attracting more visitors, provincial officials also plan to build home-stay facilities, repair areas affected by storm damage, and improve access roads to tourist attractions.
They are setting their sights on an influx of visitors during the Lao New Year in April and hope to have everything ready by then.

The planned developments will not harm the environment and will preserve the integrity of natural surroundings. They will be non-polluting and will be in harmony with the lifestyles of local ethnic groups, according to the Saravan newspaper.
Saravan authorities also plan to advertise the waterfalls and cave as part of an inter-provincial tour package involving Champassak and Xekong provinces.
Saravan has a wealth of natural and cultural attractions as well as places of historical interest and visitors will not be disappointed. The province is home to 10 ethnic groups whose way of life can be observed, while there is plenty of local food to be sampled and souvenirs to be bought.
Saravan has 50 officially-designated sites of natural interest, 38 cultural attractions and six historical sites, of which seven have visitor facilities, according to the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism.
The province is renowned for its stunning scenery, with the Tad Lor and Tad Hang waterfalls being among the highlights and a jumping off point for further adventures.
Tad Hang is the best bet for swimming as the water is not too turbulent. Fishing is very common and, although the water is not crystal clear, it is not unhealthy.
Visitors to the spectacular Tad Hang can also get to see Tad Lo because the two waterfalls are close together and both can be enjoyed at leisure.
Another must-see is the Kaengkou, which carries water from the Xedon and Xeset rivers, and is a great spot for a picnic.
Visitors to Saravan should be sure to try the local grilled chicken and chicken soup, while the province is also praised for its hand-made wood carvings and wicker goods.
Saravan is located in the south of Laos about 690km from Vientiane by road. It contains the Phou Xieng Thong National Biodiversity Conservation Area, which extends over nearly 1,000 sq km in the western part of the province next to the Mekong River.

By Times Reporters
 (Latest Update January 14, 2022)