VIENTIANE, 21 August 2015: Vang Vieng Tourism Department plans to expand tourism services and increase tourist attractions and activities to boost arrivals to this riverside destination in central Laos.

The destination attracts budget travellers who visit the riverside town on their way to Luang Prabang. At 166 km north of Vientiane, capital it is a popular halfway point for overland travellers.

Vientiane Times media quoted Vang Vieng Tourism Department head, Bounmy Phommasa, saying the department would improve services and tourist attractions, and allow more restaurants to open along the Nam Xong River.

“The department will allow a zip-line at Tham Lom cave, to go along with other adventure activities such as tubing, kayaking, climbing, cycling, trekking, boat riding and quad bike riding.

“These activities will increase the attractions we offer and help us draw even more tourists to Vang Vieng,” the director said.

More Koreans, Chinese, and Thai visitors visit the resort, but it is still very popular with Europeans.

Vang Vieng has seen a steady rise in income of around 7% to 8%, while the number of visitors has risen by 8% in the first seven months of this year compared to the same period last year.

Vang Vieng should welcome around 180,000 people by the end of this year.

Vang Vieng became infamous for its tourist ghetto packed with bars, that attracted hordes of backpacking tourists who tended to disregard Lao customs. They drank heavily and partied late into the night. There were some serious drink-related accidents on roads and also river.

Tourism officials say they would like to develop the resort as an up-market resort by the river, but its position as half-way house for overland travellers who travel to Luang Prabang by local buses is not likely to change the visitor profile for some time to come.