Sustainable Tourism Development Strategies: A Case Study of Vieng Xay District, Hua Phan Province, Lao People’s Democratic Republic

ยุทธศาสตร์การพัฒนาการท่องเที่ยวอย่างยั่งยืน: กรณีศึกษา เมืองเวียงไซ แขวงหัวพัน สาธารณรัฐประชาธิปไตยประชาชนลาว

Abstract

The objective of this mixed-method-oriented study was to investigate and designate strategies for sustainable tourism development at Viengxay District, Houaphan Province, Lao People’s Democratic Republic. The study results are summarized as follows.

From examining tourism situations and tourism behavior in the study area, it is revealed that the annual average number of tourists was relatively small. In 2016, there were 62,618 tourists visiting the area, divided into 12,642 domestic visitors and 50,039 international tourists. On average, their stay was only three days and they mostly utilized the homestay service. In addition, 78.15% of the tourists came to appreciate natural beauty. Tourists’ opinions on the potential of the local tourist attractions were generally at a moderate level. From analyzing the environment of the district, it is found that the strengths of the district are an abundance of a long history and natural resources, especially caves, which were once used as shelters and headquarters of the Lao People’s Revolution Party. The weaknesses include difficult access to the area and substandard public infrastructure as well as insufficient public utilities to accommodate tourists. The opportunities consist of tourism support from the state sector, since the district has been included in the special and specific economic development plan to promote hospitality and tourism as well as the public transportation development plan. The threats include the potential of transportation infrastructure to access tourist attractions and corruption problems in state agencies which negatively affect the management of development budget.

Regarding the strategies for sustainable tourism development, the district has formulated its vision as a historical and natural district in order to become a foundation of sustainable brotherhood of the country. Its mission consists of formulating tourism development strategies to develop the district as a sustainable natural and historical tourist attraction. The strategies include tourism product development to develop potential tourism, tourism management development to develop a systematic tourism, and tourism marketing development to promote tourism in Viengxay District.