May 30, 2024
VIENTIANE – Colourful festival entices Japanese tourists to visit Laos
The 12th Lao Festival took place in Tokyo, Japan, from May 25-26 to showcase the best of Laos’ colourful cultural traditions and strengthen the burgeoning friendship and cooperation between the two countries.
The event featured cultural performances and stalls selling Lao products such as handicrafts and food items.
The festival was attended by the Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Mrs Suanesavanh Vignaket; Minister for Reconstruction and Chairperson of the Japan-Laos Parliamentary Friendship Association, Tsuchiya Shinako; Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Mr Masahiro Komura; the Lao Ambassador to Japan Mrs Phongsamouth Anlavan; and the Chairman of the Organising Committee, Mr Yuji Arai.
Speaking at the opening of the festival on Saturday, Mrs Suanesavanh said “On behalf of the Lao government I am deeply grateful to the Lao-Japanese committee that organised this festival.”
The Lao Festival is an annual event that aims to inform the people of Japan about the way of life in Laos and encourage them to experience the joys of Laos firsthand, according to a press release from the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism.
The event also makes a strong contribution to the friendship and cooperation between Laos and Japan, and serves to foster development of their strategic partnership, as well as building mutual understanding between the peoples of the two nations, Mrs Suanesavanh said.
Next year holds particular significance for the two countries because they will celebrate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations (March 5,1955 to March 5, 2025) and 10 years of their strategic partnership, the Minister added.
Laos has embarked on a strong tourism drive to entice more visitors to explore the country, designating this year as Visit Laos Year 2024 and compiling a programme of activities for the enjoyment and education of visitors.
The campaign has proved successful, with more than 9,300 Japanese tourists coming to Laos in the first three months of this year, an increase of 55 percent compared to the same period last year, according to the Tourism Development Department of the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism.