Malayluck Sipaphay

(KPL) The tourism authorities of Xayaboury Province expect the coming 11^th Elephant Festival 2017, which is scheduled for February 17-19, to attract more than 300,000 local and overseas tourists.

This year’s Elephant Festival trade fair will begin on February 13 in Xayaboury district and province.  

Currently, more than 30 elephants from six districts of Xayaboury Province are on rehearsal to provide entertainment via their performances to both local and international arrivals, said representative of the Organising Committee for the Elephant Festival, Mr Khamla Phiewvanna.

“This year it is expected that the number of tourists will be double what is was last year, a rise from 150,000 to 300,000 tourists,” he said.

The Elephant Festival features a significant number of the endangered Asian elephants, an essential component of Lao heritage, culture, agriculture and livelihood.

The festival is one the biggest events of Laos and aims to promote tourism in Xayaboury Province as well as to broaden festival goers’ understanding of efforts made to conserve Laos’ long traditional fine culture and the unique relationship between people and elephants that has been passed down throughout history.

There will be many interesting activities at the upcoming Elephant Festival including an elephant parade, elephant performances, elephant dancing, elephant riding, and a Baci ceremony for elephants.

Parades will arrive from 11 districts of Xayaboury Province and Lao traditional music and dancing performance parades will also join the elephant parade.

The 10^th Elephant Festival last year featured sixty-seven elephants and drew more than 150,000 local and international tourists.

The province is currently making preparations to provide hospitality and convenience to welcome arrivals and tourists to guesthouses, hotels and home stays during the festival.

KPL