Six Thai spa and wellness enterprises have successfully undertaken business-matching activities with Laotian companies after a recent trade mission to Luang Prabang.
After leading 21 enterprises to Laos last week, Duangporn Rodphaya, director-general of the Foreign Trade Department, said Thai companies could find better trade and investment opportunities in Laos under Asean integration because that market had high recognition of Thai spa and healthcare services.
She said Thai enterprises had a great chance to do business in Laos, particularly in Luang Prabang, as that province is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country, so customers would include foreign travellers as well as Lao.
Luang Prabang province has 12 districts with a total population of about 480,000, of whom about 10 per cent are categorised as high-income people with high purchasing power.
The average income per capita is about US$1,350 (Bt43,600) per year.
Duangporn said the Asean Economic Community would open up chances for Thai enterprises to invest in many businesses in other Asean countries. The spa, healthcare and wellness industry is one strong business that should be able to penetrate overseas markets.
After the mission to Laos, six of the 21 participating firms from the spa and wellness industry were able to match up with Laotian companies.
Gammago (Thailand), a spa products and service operator, and Greenzone matched up with Kiridara Resort in Luang Prabang. Siam Wellness Group entered negotiations with My Dream Boutique Resort and Kiridara Resort. Au-thong Hospital, Korat Memorial Hospital and Navasri Nursing Home negotiated with Luang Prabang's Red Cross, Mekong Language Institute, Board of Trade and Industry and Kiridara Resort on taking care of ageing people and supporting human resource development to supply the healthcare and spa industry.