Southern Laos has won the PATA CEO Challenge Top Destination 2016 award. The award presented by the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), recognises the region as a top emerging tourist destination displaying unique and diverse cultures and heritages.
With a wealth of natural, cultural and historical attractions, Southern Laos is an ideal destination for tourists searching for an enchanting and stimulating place that offers something that can be found nowhere else. Whether enjoying the natural beauty of the maze of islands in Si Phan Don, leisurely floating down the Mekong River, trekking and zip-lining through dense jungle or exploring the UNESCO World Heritage temple complex of Vat Phou, Southern Laos delivers a tourist destination unlike any other. However, until very recently Southern Laos was relatively undiscovered by all but the most adventurous of tourists.
Looking to bring this destination to the wider world, in 2015 Swisscontact, an independent foundation for international development cooperation, brought together a coalition of public, private and civil society organisations in a destination management network (DMN) to create income and job opportunities for the local population through a more competitive tourism sector.
As part of this effort, Swisscontact hired travel and hotel branding specialists QUO to create a fresh destination brand that would reflect the region’s diversity, serenity, charm and relaxed approach to life. The result was the creation of a destination where tourists don’t just find a place but find life-changing new experiences.
Tim Gamper, Country Manager for Swisscontact in Laos said, “We are absolutely thrilled about this prestigious award for Southern Laos. While this is certainly a great recognition for Swisscontact’s work in collaboration with public and private sector stakeholders, it is much more a well-deserved recognition for a so far undiscovered gem of a tourism destination, a place that offers real experiences which travellers will not forget. We are confident that this award will serve as a great promoter not only for Southern Laos, but for the country of Laos as a whole.”
