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Visitor numbers set to surge at Vat Phou
Champassak provincial Vat Phou World Heritage Department of the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism predicts that about 130,000 foreign tourists will visit the site between October t his year and the end of 2012.
Department Director Mr Khankham Kaenboutta told Vientiane Times on Monday that this number of visitors would generate about 2 billion kip from the sale of entrance tickets. The entrance fee for foreigners is 30,000 kip.
Next year is Visit Laos Year and it is anticipated that the associated marketing campaign will bring in more visitors, Mr Khankham said.
The complex was accepted for listing by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 2001, following the listing of Luang Prabang as a World Heritage Site in 1995.
Before Vat Phou was listed by UNESCO, the number of overseas visitors stood at 9,000-10,000 annually, generating revenue of about 200 million kip.
Over the past 10 years, the number of foreigners visiting the complex has grown by 20-25 percent each year. Most come from Thailand and Europe, Mr Khankham said.
Visitor numbers have inc reased dramatically since an improved access road, information centre and other facilities have been built or upgraded. Restoration of the temple complex has been made possible through the generous support of the ministry, local authorities and NGOs, notably Lao-India, Lao-French, and Lao-Italian cooperatio n projects, the department reported.
Last fiscal year, more than 100,000 foreigners visited the complex, generating revenue of over 1.5 billion kip, according to the department.
In the first three months of this year, more than 30,000 foreign visitors entered the site, generating more than 400 million kip in revenue. Based on increases in yearly visitor numbers, the department predicts that 130,000 overseas tourists will tour the historic site by the end of 2012.
Visitors to the complex are able to explore several lesser-known archaeological and natural sites nearby, Mr Khankham said.
Other sights of interest in Champassak province include old buildings, temples, and the local lifestyle and culture.
Vat Phou Temple Complex and the surrounding Champassak Heritage Landscape is located about 700km south of Vientiane on the west bank of the Mekong River.
V at Phou is an excellent example of early classical Khmer architecture, dating from the 7th to 12th centuries AD.
At the foot of Vat Phou is the ancient city of Shestupura, which was settled in the 5th century AD and is believed to be the oldest urban settlement in Southeast Asia.
vientiane times
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