Thailand and Laos mull Buddhist circuit

BANGKOK, 9 September,  2010—Thailand and Laos will jointly promote Buddhist circuits linking northeastern Thailand and various regions in Lao PDR and focus on Buddhism and cultural heritage in the two countries officials announced, earlier this week.

About 80 delegates from Thailand and Lao PDR representing government offices related to tourism, travel entrepreneurs and media met in Vientiane to discuss a mutual initiative.

It was a follow-up to a meeting to one held in September 2009 when the two countries agreed to study a co-operative plan to develop joint tour programmes.

At the meeting last week, the two national tourist offices agreed to go ahead and develop Buddhist circuits and expand a programme to educate the travel trade on practical aspects.

TAT deputy governor, policy and planning, Udom Metatamrongsiri, said the project would be carried out within the “GMS framework and also in line with an ASEAN-India initiative introduced to promote religious tourism in 2008”

“Apart from promoting tourism flows between Thailand and Laos this will enhance cooperation between the travel trade in the two countries and open up commercial opportunities,” he told representatives attending the meeting.

Explaining the Buddhist Circuit was not a serious meditation-driven or worship programme, he said it would give religious tourists an opportunity to explore Buddhist temples that were also considered important historically.

On the Lao side, Lao National Tourism Administration vice chairman, Soukaseum Bodhisane, said districts close to the Mekong River were rich in culture and natural heritage that could also be linked to Buddhism.

He recommended that a survey of routes less travelled was needed to open up areas close to the Mekong River, which marks the border with Thailand and Laos and also flows a considerable distance inland through Laos passing Luang Prabang and Vientiane, the Lao capital.

Proposed routes are:

Route1 : Bangkok-Luang Prabang – Vientiane – Nong Khai – Udon Thani –Bangkok (surveyed 30 August to 3 September)

Route 2 : Bangkok – Nakhon Phanom – Udon Thani – Nong Khai – Vientiane

Route 3 : Bangkok – Laung Prabang – Xayabouli – Tha Li – Chiang Khan –

Pak Chom – Sang kom – Sri Chiang Mai – Nong Khai – Udon Thani – Bangkok

Route 4 : Bangkok – Luang Prabang – Xayabouli – Tha Li – Dan Sai –

Phitsanulok – Bangkok

Laos has set up a committee to work with TAT and tourism entrepreneurs in

In addition, LATA board member, Somphong Deviengsay, pointed out that a Buddhism circuit should include Xiangkhouang province in northeast Laos as there were many temples that were destroyed or damaged during the Indochina War but they still have historical value and links to the past.

He noted that routes through Thailand and the central and southern parts of Laos, such as Savannakhet and Champasak, could be visited year round. However, surveys were needed to identify the sites that could be developed particularly for Asian visitors.