Junko Nukiyama of the Asean-Japan Centre told Vientiane Times by telephone yesterday that the Centre and members of a judging committee selected five tour products from Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Vietnam (known collectively as CLMV) as winners of the Mekong Tourism Award 2015.

The New Destination award went to Myanmar, Ecotourism and Unique Tour awards were won by Laos, the Exchange Programme award went to Cambodia, and the Jury’s Special award was given to Vietnam.

Luang Prabang was cited for its World Heritage Site in the provincial capital and a Khmu village that is encouraging ecotourism, while Champassak was highlighted for the Vat Phou cruise and The River Resort.

The Mekong Tourism Award is an initiative of the Asean-Japan Centre and is supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, the Japan Tourism Agency, the Japan Association of Travel Agents, and the Overseas Tour Operators Association of Japan.

The main objective of the award is to encourage the Japanese travel industry to identify unique and diversified quality tour products in the CLMV bloc and to entice outbound travellers from Japan to visit these destinations.

Nukiyama said the ceremony in Tokyo to announce the awards was attended by travel agents including land operators and airline companies associated with the selected tour products.

Myanmar was given the New Destination Award for combining visits to destinations, exemplified by tours to the Kakku Pagodas and magnificent views seen at sunset at Bagan.

Cambodia won the Exchange Programme Award for teaching physical education to elementary school pupils and bringing tour participants to teach sports to pupils at schools in remote areas in Siem Reap. The programme provides two-way interaction among tour participants and school pupils and ideally promotes a win-win relationship.

Vietnam was the Jury’s Special award for a tour that takes customers to six World Heritage Sites. It introduces the PhongNha-Ke Bang National Park, a new destination in recently popular central Vietnam, and provides an opportunity for customers to experience a variety of local cuisines and beers from different regions.

Tourism is flourishing in Laos and the country saw 4.3 million international tourist arrivals last year, up 4.88 per cent from 4.1 million visitors in 2014.