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Xekong mulls plan to create wartime visitor attraction
Xekong province is considering gathering together planes, tanks and other equipment used during the Indochina War in the belief that such a collection would be of interest to visitors. But the plan is proving challenging because the items in question are mostly located in remote mountainous areas and it would be costly to transport them to a central location. Director of the province's Department of Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr Bouxay Xayasen, this week shared the department's plan with participants at the annual meeting of the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism. The planes and armaments under consideration include at least five planes shot down during the war, two tanks, and two howitzers.
This plane was shot down during the Indochina war. --Photo Xekong province's Department of Information, Culture and Tourism
Mr Bouxay said the authorities had inspected two of the crashed planes and planned to move them to nearby communities. This would cost about 30 million kip, which would also be spent on arranging new storage sites. Authorities also want to take a look at three other planes to see what condition they're in and record their findings, but they are difficult to access as it involves travel over mountains.
In addition, it's possible the planes may have been found by scrap metal collectors and many parts removed, especially as the planes are located close to the Vietnamese border. With regard to the two tanks and howitzers, Mr Bouxay said it would not be so expensive to move this equipment as it is located on flat land.
Source: Vientiane Times (Latest Update February 4, 2017)
Xekong province is considering gathering together planes, tanks and other equipment used during the Indochina War in the belief that such a collection would be of interest to visitors. But the plan is proving challenging because the items in question are mostly located in remote mountainous areas and it would be costly to transport them to a central location. Director of the province's Department of Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr Bouxay Xayasen, this week shared the department's plan with participants at the annual meeting of the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism. The planes and armaments under consideration include at least five planes shot down during the war, two tanks, and two howitzers.
This plane was shot down during the Indochina war. --Photo Xekong province's Department of Information, Culture and Tourism
Mr Bouxay said the authorities had inspected two of the crashed planes and planned to move them to nearby communities. This would cost about 30 million kip, which would also be spent on arranging new storage sites. Authorities also want to take a look at three other planes to see what condition they're in and record their findings, but they are difficult to access as it involves travel over mountains.
In addition, it's possible the planes may have been found by scrap metal collectors and many parts removed, especially as the planes are located close to the Vietnamese border. With regard to the two tanks and howitzers, Mr Bouxay said it would not be so expensive to move this equipment as it is located on flat land.
Source: Vientiane Times (Latest Update February 4, 2017)
