Laos, Yunnan province seek stronger tourism industry cooperation

THE LAO National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LNCCI), in cooperation with the Yunnan enterprise office to Laos, on Tuesday held a Lao and Yunnan, China cooperation promotion meeting on the tourism industry – an activity set to promote the Visit LaosChina Year 2019 and the LaoYunnan trade exhibition.

The meeting was chaired by Deputy Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Ounthouang Khaophanh and LNCCI vice-president Daovone Phachanthavong, and attended by representatives from the Yunnan enterprise office to Laos and the Laos-China cooperation commission.

Currently, the number of Chinese investors in trade and tourism is increasing, which is important in boosting cooperation between Laos and China, especially Laos and the bordering Yunnan province.

Through this meeting, Lao and Yunnan enterprises will deepen their understanding of trade and investment in tourism from government organisations, in particular the ministries of Planning and Investment, Industry and Commerce, and Information, Culture and Tourism.

Consultations and discussions will help reach better solutions to each challenge and help resolve the struggle for facilitation.

Enterprises will be better placed to strengthen cooperation in the tourism industry to create a win-win situation.

Following the Belt and Road Initiative, the Lao government will have to actively improve infrastructure to transform Laos from being a landlocked country to a land link within the region.

The Lao and Chinese governments have signed cooperation agreements on trade, services and investment.

The Laos-China railway is major project linking Laos and Yunnan and the Lao government also needs more improvement and development of roads along economic corridors in order to forge better transport links with neighbouring countries.

China is the biggest foreign investor in Laos, with most funds coming from Yunnan.

There are currently more than 300 enterprises doing business in Laos in different sectors such as agriculture, industry, and tourism, according to the Yunnan enterprise office to Laos.

The number of tourists visiting Laos last year increased to more than 4.1 million, of which 800,000 people came from China.

Cooperation in the tourism industry between Laos and Yunnan will help to further boost the number of visitors to Laos which will in turn increase the trade and investment of both sides.