The Department of Tourism Marketing and Promotion of the Lao National Tourism Administration (LNTA) is responsible for formulating laws, decrees, rules and regulations, policy, strategies and project plans on tourism marketing and promotion; for administering, managing, controlling and inspecting the implementation of tourism marketing and promotion projects nationwide; and for promoting Lao tourism both nationally and internationally. The principal objectives of the Department are to establish the image of the Lao PDR in a high and dignified way in the international tourist community; to conduct functional research as necessary with a view to finding out ways of solving problems encountered within the section; and to encourage co-operation between relevant government departments and between the public and private sectors in the field of tourism marketing and promotion. The principal activities of the Department include participating in travel trade fairs, organising sales missions and road shows, and planning and organising familiarisation trips, special campaigns and events, advertising, public relations and publicity and public information.