However, he said that despite their success, ministry officials should work even harder to ensure effective implementation of the resolution of the 9th Party Congress and the 7th five-year National Socio-economic Development Plan.
The deputy prime minister, who is in charge of social and cultural affairs, made the comment during a meeting with core ministry officials at the National Culture Hall in Vientiane.
The meeting was held to guide officials in the implementation of the resolution of the 9th Party Congress over the next two years.
The ministry plays an important role in helping locals and foreigners to understand the policies of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and the laws of Laos so they can comply with them, Mr Asang said.
The ministry also plays a significant role in promoting Laos' fine culture and developing the tourism industry in a bid to attract more visitors, which will generate revenue for poverty reduction programmes.
Mr Asang, who is also a Politburo member, said media outlets should provide the public with more information on science and technology so they could use modern methods to boost productivity and improve their living sta ndards.
The media should also encourage young people to preserve the traditional Lao culture and lifestyle, he said.
Mr Asang advised the information sector to train up good quality officials by encouraging them to study overseas to acquire more experience.
He also said it was extremely important to ensure that villages were fully qualified to hold the title of ‘cultural village'.
The ministry should thoroughly vet a village before designating it as a centre of cultural preservation, and residents should be aware of what this means.
Mr Asang also paid tribute to those involved in bringing the award for World's Best Tourist Destination to Laos for 2013 from the European Council on Tourism and Trade. But he said the tourism sector shouldn't get carried away with its success because it will be difficult to retain the award next year. He said officials must work extra hard if they want to win it a second time.
“We need to review and evaluate our tourism programme to make it workable and sustainable. We have to identify the best places for visitors to stay and eat, and then improve them so that people receive a warm welcome in the future.”
Another important aspect of his advice concerned nationwide tourism resource development, with the aim of driving visitor numbers up even further.
“If we discover a new tourism resource, it will bring more tourists to Laos and locals will benefit from it,” he added.
On the same occasion, Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Prof. Dr Bosengkham Vongdara reported on achievements following on from the 9th Party Congress and, in particular, work accomplished during the current five year socio-economic development plan.
His report noted that since 2010 the information sector has expanded through both print and electronic media. Tra ditional culture has been promoted and preserved and is keeping the country's history and traditions alive for future generations.
The report also described the great improvements in the tourism sector which now has firm guidelines in place to manage its activities. As a result, he believes many tourists have been encouraged to visit Laos.