Asean meeting to provide a grand stage for Lao tourism

Laos is set to benefit from the 31st Asean Socio-Cultural Community Council Meeting later this year by showcasing the country’s products and services to tourism professionals.
The meeting will take place from March 25-30 in Luang Prabang City during Laos’ chairmanship of Asean, under the socio-cultural pillar of Asean community building.

Mrs Suanesavanh Vignaket.

The meeting will focus on three priority topics. The first of these is promoting the role of culture and art in Asean to make these aspects both comprehensive and sustainable.
The second topic will involve discussions on environmental cooperation and resilience to climate change, while the third will centre on the advancement of women and children in Asean nations.
The meeting looks forward to the realisation of priorities, particularly those under the purview of the Asean Socio-Cultural Community Pillar, including strengthening regional culture and tourism, along with promoting environmental cooperation and mitigating the impacts of climate change, and strengthening women-inclusive development.
Speaking at a meeting on Wednesday, Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Mrs Suanesavanh Vignaket, invited participants to engage in discussions concerning Laos’ Asean chairmanship in relation to the Asean socio-cultural pillar.
The Asean Socio-Cultural Community aims to strengthen its cooperation and further improve its tourism products to attract more international tourists and contribute to the development of local communities, she added.
The meeting on Wednesday sought to strengthen collaboration to further improve Laos’ tourism products to attract more international tourists, and at the same time to contribute more to local communities and the sustainability of tourism within the region.
Laos has numerous cultural and historical attractions, is a hub for manyl large companies, and has excellent connectivity to neighbouring countries.
The government has developed tourism infrastructure, facilities, transportation, activities, and various tourism products, and is in the process of improving standards across the tourism industry.
Among the events taking place this year are Outstanding Art Works of Asean 2024; One Stage - Art creation activities for Asean-Japan youth; the Asean-Korea Music Festival; musical exchanges among Asean students, a talk on plastic-free living in Asean, and discussions on the sharing of cultural heritage along the route of the Laos-China railway to encourage greater integration of Asean cultures.
The Asean Socio-Cultural Community seeks to build an Asean community that is people-oriented and socially responsible, to achieve enduring solidarity and unity among the peoples and Member States of Asean.
It also seeks to forge a common identity and build a caring and sharing society that is inclusive and where the well-being, livelihoods and welfare of all citizens is enhanced.

By Phetphoxay Sengpaseuth
 (Latest Update January 4, 2024)