VIENTIANE (Xinhua): Laos is working to strengthen its tourism sector to attract more visitors and create greater opportunities for local businesses.

Soutvimon, a seller of handicrafts in the Laotian capital Vientiane, is optimistic that the booming tourism industry will help create more job opportunities, promote local businesses and bring economic benefits in the long term to communities.

“I believe Laos has great potential to boost its tourism industry, which will provide Laotians with the opportunity to improve their livelihoods. As more visitors come to Laos, local businesses such as restaurants, hotels and souvenir shops should benefit.” she told Xinhua on Wednesday.

She added that the tourism boom opens the door for her business to reach a wider audience, as foreign visitors are more likely to purchase local products and services.

The Laos Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism has convened a meeting to evaluate the implementation of the Visit Laos Year 2024 tourism promotion campaign, laying the foundation for future tourism initiatives.

Speaking at Monday’s meeting, Lao Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Suansavanh Viyaket highlighted the government’s commitment to tourism as a vital economic sector, emphasizing its role in job creation, income generation and foreign exchange inflows, all of which contribute significantly to the economic and social development of Laos.

Laos is developing a plan to strengthen its tourism sector, with a focus on promoting high-quality tourism that meets international standards.

Phengchanh, a street food vendor, said: “I believe that as tourism continues to grow, more customers will come, creating higher income and better opportunities for all local vendors like me.

“At the same time, we need to focus on the quality of our products and services, because satisfied tourists might come back and recommend us to others.

“The more tourists we attract, the more opportunities there are for businesses like mine to grow and provide jobs for local people,” he added. -Xinhua