Posse of pachyderms planned for upcoming Elephant Festival in Xayaboury

The annual Elephant Festival in Xayaboury province promises to be yet another grand display of pachyderm prowess and entertainment, with the next edition to feature a rare white elephant.
The festival will take place from February 22-28, the Deputy Governor of Xayaboury province, Mr Yanyong Sipaserth, told a press conference held in the province on Tuesday.
The 14th Elephant Festival will feature a colourful programme of activities, including elephant shows and a display of locally made One District, One Product (ODOP) goods.

A street fair will give visitors the chance to buy locally grown agricultural produce as well as handicrafts from other provinces and neighbouring countries, Mr Yanyong said.
Services for visitors will be available starting February 18.
Some 71 elephants are expected to participate in the festival, which will have a focus on elephant conservation. Visitors will be able to get close to the mighty beasts, feed them, and take rides.
A programme of activities will be planned for each day of the festival and visitors can tour rural areas and visit villages inhabited by eight ethnic groups, as well as watch cultural performances.
Xayaboury is located in northern Laos and is about 300 km from Vientiane. It has many attractions for visitors including 29 officially designated nature-based places of interest, 12 cultural sites, and six places with historical associations.
The province is readily accessible from within Laos and neighbouring countries and contains a National Protected Area which is rich in natural biodiversity. Xayaboury is also home to more elephants than any other province in Laos.
During Visit Laos-China Year 2019, Xayaboury has improved many of its visitor facilities as well as the quality of service at hotels, guesthouses and tourist sites in hopes of attracting more holiday-makers and generating income for the province.
In the first nine months of this year, more than 3.4 million people vacationed in Laos, up 11 percent on last year, according to the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update November 21, 2019)