The land of a million elephants

Lan Xang, or the Land of a Million Elephants, as it is endearingly known among the peaceful residents of Laos, has recently evolved into a fashionable tourist destination and a country of endless possibilities among foreign investors, including Hungarian ones.

Since Lao Airlines, the national flag carrier of the People’s Republic of Laos opened it first ever representation in Budapest early this year, tourism to the landlocked Southeast Asian country has increased significantly. During his recent visit to Vientiane, the country’s peaceful capital, Rudolf Sárdi, Product Manager of the Lao Airlines representation for Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic, conducted negotiations with Saly Phimphinith, Director-General of the Prime Minister’s Office of Lao National Tourism Administration.
The figures of incoming tourism into the country have increased dramatically from 1.7 million tourists in 2008 to a staggering 2.8 million last year. Sárdi has proposed that the prospective opening of a Lao tourist representation in Hungary and Central Europe would contribute favourably to the steadily growing bilateral relations. Such an initiative would promote good contacts and deep friendship between the two nations, promoting the development of the economic, commercial and cultural fields in Laos. Phimphinith was delighted to learn that an efficiently functioning Hungarian-Lao Friendship Association is already in existence in Hungary, the members of which are patrons of civil friendship between the two nations and seek to promote co-operations in various fields.

Sitthideth Douangsiththy, Commercial Director of Lao Airlines said that the airline has been considering expanding its network by operating new flights to Ho Chi Minh City and some destinations in China, while flying into Hong Kong and Singapore are also in plan in the not too distant future. With the international flights of Turkish Airlines to Bangkok and LOT Polish Airlines to Hanoi, Hungarian travellers can easily access Vientiane, the country’s historic capital, and the scenic UNESCO World Heritage royal capital, Luang Prabang.
Alongside the popularisation of Laos in the field of tourism, the two countries have recently agreed to upgrade their relationship to one of comprehensive strategic co-operative partnership. Hungarian enterprises looking to invest in Laos are growing in number. One Hungarian investor is to build three feed mix plants and other investments worth a combined 9 million USD in Laos, while other projects in rural development are also under way. The longstanding Lao-Hungarian relationship has been strengthened by frequent exchange visits by leaders of the two countries as well as regular exchanges at all levels. On 25 August, Deputy Prime Minister Somsavat Lengsavad received at his office in Vientiane a courtesy visit of György Czerván, Deputy Minister of Rural Development of Hungary. At the meeting, Somsavat Lengsavad expressed his gratitude for the visit of the Hungarian delegation to Laos. He said that the visit was also a part of contribution to developing the socio-economic development of the two countries.