Media rewarded for Visit Laos Year 2018 coverage
Individual members of news outlets on Monday received awards for outstanding coverage in relation to Visit Laos Year 2018.
The awards followed a competition in various categories, with the presentation ceremony taking place at Lao National Television.
The event was attended by Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Prof. Dr Bosengkham Vongdara, and Deputy Minister Mr Savankhone Razmountry, who is President of the Lao Journalists’ Association.
The competition on the theme “Visit Laos Year 2018” was organised by the Lao Journalists’ Association with the aim of selecting the best news media and publishing products that served to promote the country’s tourist attractions.
The competition was divided into the five categories of news, feature stories, audio, video clips and tourism information manuals. Two prizes were awarded in each category.
The winner of the news category was Ms Siladda Souliyong of the Vientiane Times for her piece titled “Simply beautiful campaign pushes visitor attractions in Luang Prabang”. Second prize went to Mr Khamphout Thepphanom from the Lao Phatthana newspaper for his article titled “Rice festival in Xayaboury”. The winner of the feature category was Mr Khamheuang Khampasith from the Pasaxon newspaper for his piece titled “Battlefield area became tourism site”. Second prize went to Mr Lamngeun Keovichit from the Lao News Agency (Pathedlao) for “Buddha Park (Xieng Khuan) in Vientiane”.
The winner of the audio category was Ms Chanthasone Sihanath from Lao National Radio for “Promoting Laos tourism”. Second prize went to Mr Bountieng Chanthavong from Lao National Radio for “Huaphan tourism”.
The video clip category was won by Mr Khamphet from Lao National Television for his video titled “Wonderful Laos tourism”, while in second place was Mr Phoonsab Thevongsa from the Vientiane Times for his clip titled “Rice festival in Xayaboury”.
The winner of the tourism information booklet category was Dr Thongkham Onmanisone for “Perfume mother ground” while in second place was the Vientiane Times for its work titled “Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Media Summit”.
Speaking at the awards ceremony, Mr Savankhone said the event had been organised to summarise the Visit Laos Year 2018 campaign and to commemorate the 68th Media and Publication Day (August 13, 1950-August 13, 2018). The media and publishing outlets are important for national protection and development and play a vital role in disseminating the policies of the Party and state, building patriotism, and strengthening the culture of the nation and its ethnic groups.
During Visit Laos Year 2018, the information, culture and tourism sector through the media and publishing outlets had worked hard to advertise the programme in many ways, both in Laos and in other countries, which had yielded many rewards, Mr Savankhone said.
Laos has many attractions – cultural, historical and natural – together with a raft of fascinating customs and traditions.
The media had highlighted all facets of these through every available channel, both in Lao and in foreign languages, he added.
Prof. Dr Bosengkham Vongdara also highlighted the successes of the Visit Laos Year 2018 campaign. Now the media will turn its attention to Visit Laos-China Year 2019 in a bid to attract even more tourists.
The tourism campaign is targeting 4.5 million visitors in 2019 and revenue of US$700 million.
Editor: John Li