Philipino President Arrives in Laos HANOI, October 17 (xinhua) -- Philipino President Fidel Ramos arrived in Lao capital of Vientiane today for a two- day state visit. Ramos was greeted by Lao President Nouhak Phoumsavanh, Vice President Sisavath Keobounphanh, and Vice Prime Minister Boun-Nhang Vorachith and other high-ranking officials, the Lao official news agency KPL, monitored here, reported. The two heads of state held talks after Ramos' arrival. BKK Post / October 17, 1997 THAI-LAO DISPUTE Police officer defends Lao boat seizure By Theerawat Khamthita in Chiang Rai The attempted seizure of six Lao boats by Thai immigration authorities has been supported by the deputy police chief, Pol Gen Pornsak Durongkavibul. He threw his weight behind the move after inspecting Ban Sob Khok in Chiang Saen district and talking with Chiang Rai Governor Vijarn Chaiyanan. His visit took place after negotiations between Chiang Rai officials and their counterparts in Bokeo broke down. Six Thai officers were seized by Laos on October 7 while chasing four Lao boats suspected of carrying illegal beer from China down the Mekong. Two other boats that were seized are now docked in Chiang Saen. Laos says the goods were not contraband because they had invoices. They want compensation from Thailand before freeing the officers. Pol Gen Pornsak said the officers had the right to inspect the vessels because they were 500 metres inside Thailand. The Chiang Rai governor yesterday unsuccessfully tried to contact Bokeo Governor Soukanh Maharath to visit the officers. Their relatives had travelled to Bangkok to ask the government to help, he added. Lt-Gen Chidchai Vannasathis, chief of the Immigration Police Bureau who accompanied the deputy police chief, said a subordinate had seen the officers. He said they were safe but in poor condition and suffering from stress. The Foreign Ministry said a drowned Laotian thought to be a man fleeing capture by Thailand proved not to be the man after relatives failed to identify him. BKK Post / October 17, 1997 INVESTMENT Thai businessmen urged to develop tourism in Laos By Peerawat Jariyasombat The Laotian market promises to provide good business opportunities, particularly in tourism, according to Thai business people in Laos. The prospects for Thai businesses in Laos were discussed at a Tourism Authority of Thailand seminar held in Udon Thani. The aim of the seminar was to encourage Thai businessmen to grasp the opportunity before losing it to other foreign investors. It is the first move by TAT to tighten the tourism relationship between the two countries and make Thailand the real tourism hub in Indochina. "The Laotian government has quite a solid policy to support foreign investment. Its tourism products are very good. Thai businessmen should find a new better market while the local market remains in trouble," Darat Vongphanichjaroen, accounting manager of Champasak Palace Hotel, a Thai-owned hotel in Champasak, Laos. Laos is attracting tourists from around the world to explore its natural and cultural heritage. In the first half of this year, 220,000 foreign tourists visited Laos, 140,000 of whom were Thai. The remaining 68,000 mainly came from France, Europe, US, and Japan. With steady growth, it is expected that the total foreign tourist in a few years. Champasak Palace hotel is one of success stories of Thai investment in Lao. The 50 million baht 60-room hotel has been recording an average occupancy rate of 60%. "With prosperous resource and low labour cost, now the opportunity in Lao is quite better than in Thailand," Miss Darat said. Thailand is the biggest investor in Laos. There are 232 projects worth US$2.5 billion, representing 38% of total foreign investment. In the tourism field, Thai investors are developing ten tourism and hotel projects. "We have close relationship and similar culture to Laos. We should take the opportunity to tighten business relationship and maintain leadership before other countries take it," Sasi-apha Prasopsub, director of Vientiane office of TAT said. In the past Thai businessmen were the only foreign investors in Laos. This year other countries entered the country and its market. However, demand for investment in Laos in timber, transportation, communication, and tourism, remains strong, she said. The country's stable political system makes investment in the Indochinese nation quite attractive. The Laotian government guarantees foreign assets in investment but does not control production capacity or price. Moreover, it allows foreign investors to take money back to their countries. Technical support to Laos in developing its tourism is part of TAT's long term plan to put Thailand at the centre of tourism in Indochina. The Nation (BKK) / 17 October 1997 Headlines Move to settle row with Laos PRIME Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh said yesterday he had asked local authorities in Chiang Rai to find a friendly way to settle a row with their Laotian counterparts over the recent arrest of six Thai immigration officers by Laos. The instruction followed a hiatus in talks to secure the release of the men. Five rounds of talks between Chiang Rai authorities and in Laos' Bo Keo have already ended without a resolution. Laos has charged the six with possessing weapons and intruding on Laotian territory. Deputy Foreign Minister Pitak Intrawityanunt said he was still optimistic that the matter could be settled at the local level. "At the moment, we should remain silent. Let the local authorities do the job," he said.