Laos sees tourism as top earner.

Byline: Somporn Thapanachai

Aug. 1--VIENTIANE -- Laos expects tourism to be the top contributor to its economic growth and is focusing on promoting ecotourism to international markets.

Laos recorded 1.2 million tourist arrivals that generated US$173 million for the country last year. Tourism was the second largest contributor, after mining, to the country's GDP, said Ambassador Vang Rattanavong, vice-chairman of the Lao National Tourism Administration.

"Tourism will be the number one contributor in the future as there are many projects developing at the moment," he said.

The country projects 1.3 million arrivals with $190 million generated …