Green Discovery Laos recently launched the Green Care Fund to promote awareness of nature conservation among Lao urban youth and their teachers.
"The more young people are taught about environmental issues, the more chances these issues will receive proper response in the near future of Laos," said Green Discovery Laos Owner Inthy Deuansavan.
The Green Care Fund finances two-or-three-day camping and fun outings for teenagers from Lao secondary schools into national protected area (NPA) forests, where they are lectured on environmental issues by professionals.
This new private and independent Lao nonprofit fund reflects Green Discovery Laos' commitment to the principles of corporate social responsibility.
The first two-day trip took place in early May 2011, with 25 children from a Vientiane secondary school visiting the Phou Khao Khouay NPA.
The trip was financed by a donation from the Swiss Development & Cooperation Agency through TABI (The Agro-biodiversity Initiative).
With the objective of a dozen trips per year, The Green Care Fund is currently looking for partners such as NGOs, embassies, as well as individuals willing to offer educational and fun trips to young Lao students and spread useful knowledge about nature, according to the fund's creator M. Nicolas.
The fund also offers the private sector and donor agencies the opportunity to assist in helping to educate students on nature conservation in Laos.
To post your comments or start a discussion, visit the:
Ecotourism Laos Google Group.
New Zealand Returns to Develop Laos CBT:
The New Zealand government announced on 17 May at Vientiane's Mercure Hotel that it is returning to Laos to provide a USD3.3-million grant to assist in further developing community-based tourism (CBT) in four Lao provinces: Luang Namtha, Xieng Khouang, Bolikhamxay, and Khammouane.
The project, to be implemented by the Lao National Tourism Administration (LNTA) and provincial tourism departments (PTDs) from 2011-2013, will focus on home stays, and establishing and supplying tourism products in the four provinces.
The PTDs will also receive assistance in developing tourism strategies, tourism sites and facilities, advertising, tourism market analyses, and manuals on hotel rankings, while meeting ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) standards of transport and travel, and tourism investment.
New Zealand's return to Laos' CBT scene stems from its participation in the Nam Ha Ecotourism Project in Luang Namtha (1999-2008), a model for alleviating poverty, and UNESCO's "Fighting Poverty in the Plain of Jars" (2006-2009).
"The recent and successful Nam Ha Ecotourism Project was recognized internationally and received several international awards," LNTA Chairman Somphong Mongkhonvilay said.
The LNTA Chairman added, "The Lao government through LNTA is working hard to establish a sustainable ecotourism industry that can help attract tourists, generate economic growth, and alleviate poverty while protecting the natural and cultural resources that make Laos such a special place."
For more information, visit: click here.
To post your comments or start a discussion, visit the:
Ecotourism Laos Google Group.
Lao Eyes Billion Dollars in Tourism Revenue by 2020:
Laos' travel industry could generate more than double 2010's USD400 million in revenue to hit USD1 billion within 10 years, Lanith Chief Technical Advisor Peter Semone told attendees at Lanith's (Lao National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality) 3rd Quarterly Symposium.
Mr Semone called on tourism strategist Thomas Cullen PhD's "future-gazing" skills to draw the map needed to reach the goal at the event held at Vientiane's Settha Palace on 16 May.
The former Cornell School of Tourism and Hospitality professor and tourism futurist, Dr Cullen said the target was within reach if the industry stays abreast of changing demand and focuses on niche markets and experiential holidays.
Mr Semone said realizing a substantial leap in tourism revenue, Laos' second-largest foreign revenue earner behind minerals "is not only about increasing arrivals. That's just a third of it. We need to increase the average length of stay and daily spend."
He added, "Lanith's contribution is to significantly improve service quality to better position Laos for attracting quality tourists."
Dr Cullen agreed, stating, "Human resources are at the heart of how we create value."
He told the gathering of public and private sector tourism experts that tourists only spend about "four-to-six hours a day looking at what they came to see. That leaves eight to 10 hours to fill with activities such as shopping, dining, and entertainment," and he added, "Most spending takes place after 6:00 pm."
To post your comments or start a discussion, visit the:
Ecotourism Laos Google Group.
Lost Earth Leaps into Laos:
UK-based Lost Earth Adventures, which prides itself on its green tour packages, has introduced a 23-day "Southeast Asia Odyssey" that takes tourists deep into the heart of Laos.
After eight days in Thailand, the itinerary moves onto Laos at the Golden Triangle to Houei Xai in northeastern Bokeo Province, before cruising in a long tail boat up the remote Nam Tha River and an overnight home stay in Ben Pheng Village.
The boat continues to Ban Nale before a tuk tuk ride to Luang Namtha for the night. The route continues to Nong Khiaw on the Nam Ou River for a night in a wooden hut, before a three-day trek around Muang Ngoi Neua.
A Mekong River ride to Luang Prabang Town comes next to see the highlights of the UNESCO World Heritage site, and then the adventure heads to Vang Vieng for tubing down the Nam Song River, rock climbing, and kayaking on the Nam Lik River.
For more information, visit: www.lostearthadventures.co.uk
To post your comments or start a discussion, visit the:
Ecotourism Laos Google Group.
Luang Prabang Revealed:
Tourism Indochina has added a four-day "Luang Prabang Revealed" program to its portfolio of Lao tours.
The new itinerary begins with visits to the city's highlights including Vat Visoun, Vat Aham, Vat Mai, and Mount Phousi's stupa, as well as the Night Market featuring textiles and handicrafts produced by local ethnic minorities.
The tour's second day takes in Pak Ou Cave and Kwangsi Waterfall, while the adventurous third day combines rafting with an elephant trek to Tad Sae Waterfall and a visit to an elephant camp.
Before departing on Day 4, the program moves to the National Museum's collection of artifacts and the Central Market.
For more information, click here.
To post your comments or start a discussion, visit the:
Ecotourism Laos Google Group.
"Lao Food - What's That?!" Part 3:
In his third article in an ongoing series describing Lao food, Xaixana Champanakhone presents "Chili Dips - the 'major-domo' of the food spread", with a focus on jeow, which are sauces or dips that contain chilies.
Xaixana starts with classic jeow, which is fairly dry or a paste and "plays a principal role in the daily finger eaten sticky rice diet." He goes on to explain the endless choice of jeow, which are named for the "particular herb, vegetable, meat, fish, or insect that adds its distinctive flavor," or by the province of origin.
Xaixana spotlights jeow hawn, which "is served hot (hawn) as a soup in an earthenware hotpot on a charcoal stove, which is placed in the center of the dining table. The food is cooked and eaten fondue-style." For those visiting Vientiane Capital, he recommends trying the jeow hawn served at the Saifone Jeo Hone Restaurant on Fa-ngum Road opposite the Don Chan Palace hotel.
To download "Chili Dips - the 'major-domo' of the food spread" click here.
To post your comments or start a discussion, visit the:
Ecotourism Laos Google Group.
LAO TOURISM IN THE NEWS
Nam Ha Revisited:
AFP contributor, Amelie Bottollier-Depois, recently published a feature story, "Laos opens the door to Ecotourism", on the UNESCO Nam Ha Ecotourism Project, in which she probed into the success of the 10-year-old venture in Luang Namtha Province.
In the article, she noted Lao National Tourism Administration statistics show almost 250,000 tourists visited northwest Luang Namtha province in 2010, up from 20,000 in 1999, when the green tourism project was launched.
Ms Bottollier-Depois quoted Steven Schipani, who played a major role in the Nam Ha Ecotourism Project and is currently leading the Asian Development Bank's Southeast Asian tourism program. She also spoke with tourists visiting Luang Namtha to uncover their opinions on the province's sustainable tourism efforts.
To post your comments or start a discussion, visit the:
Ecotourism Laos Google Group.
Top-Rated Luang Prabang Remains a Secret:
The International Business Times' 12 May 2024 issue featured "The World's Top Rated Destination that Nobody's Going To", in which contributor Mark Johanson pointed to Luang Prabang as "on the verge of superstardom".
In his article, Mr Johanson stated, "Sure, it was the New York Times number one destination in the world for 2008. Sure, it's the Wanderlust Travel Awards winner for Top City in 2010 and 2011. But, nobody seems to be listening - and that's a good thing."
He explained, "Luang Prabang is a nerdy tourist's intellectual paradise. Oozing old-world charm, the dreamy backstreets and riverfront pathways overflow with art, architecture, religion, and history. Across the dirt-green river and beyond the latticed riverside gardens, Luang Prabang is surrounded by a handful of craftsmen's villages. Woodworkers, potters, papermakers, knitters, and dyers prepare their works for the evening market, making Luang Prabang the premier place in Southeast Asia for authentic, genuinely handmade textiles and goods."
To post your comments or start a discussion, visit the:
Ecotourism Laos Google Group.
Laos Scores Three of Travel Indochina's Top 18 Memorable Experiences:
Australian travel specialist, Travel Indochina, named its 18 most memorable experiences in Asia to celebrate its 18th birthday, with Laos landing three spots: Lao cooking classes, an elephant trek in Xe Pian National Protected Area, and a slow boat cruise down the Mekong.
"After spending the past 18 years in Asia, learning more everyday about this region, which we're all so passionate about, we've drawn together our 18 most memorable travel experiences which we'd like to share," Travel Indochina's Managing Director Paul Hole said.
He added, "They've been moments (when) we've been able to glimpse at the 'real Asia'…insights into the lives of the locals, who have so generously opened their doors and their hearts to us, or moments of unsurpassable beauty across these diverse lands."
Laos nailed down slots four to six, with a Lao cooking class in Luang Prabang leading off. According to Mr Hole, learning to cook allows tourists to "bring part of the world home."
Next up is an elephant trek in Champasak Province's Xe Pian National Protected Area, as it provides the opportunity for visitors to support local communities in a remote area.
A slow boat ride on the Mekong River from Bokeo Province's Houei Xai border checkpoint with Thailand to Luang Prabang, with an overnight in cozy Pakbeng in Oudomxai Province, followed, as the cruise presents Laos' slow pace of life as it passes by tiny rural villages and local fisherman trying to net the day's catch, and through pristine forests.
For more information, visit: www.travelindochina.co.uk, www.luangprabang-tourism.org, and www.xepian.org.
To post your comments or start a discussion, visit the:
Ecotourism Laos Google Group.
Laos-Thailand Aim to Create "Model Boundary":
Laos and Thailand have agreed to jointly promote border cooperation to encourage peace and friendship between the two countries and turn their common border into "model boundary".
According to Thai Deputy Commerce Minister Alongkorn Ponlaboot, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his Lao counterpart Thongsing Thammavong reached the resolution on the sidelines of the 18th ASEAN Summit in Indonesia, the Pattaya Mail reported.
As part of the effort, the third Thai-Lao friendship bridge linking the Thai province of Nakhon Phanom to Khammouane Province in Laos will be inaugurated on 11 November 2011, while the construction of the fourth friendship bridge from the Thailand's northern Chiang Rai Province to Houei Xai in Laos' Bokeo Province will be expedited.
To post your comments or start a discussion, visit the:
Ecotourism Laos Google Group.
Third Mekong Bridge Nears Completion
The third Thai-Laos Friendship Bridge across the Mekong River linking Thakaek in Laos' Khammouane Province with Thailand's Nakhon Phanom Province is 90 per cent complete and will be opened in November, according to Nakhon Phanom Governor Reungsak Mahavinichaimontri.
The USD5.7-million bridge spans 5.2 kilometers, of which 780 meters crosses the Mekong. The structure, which received government approval in 2007, has taken around two and a half years to build, and joins the Vientiane-Nongkhai and Savannakhet-Mukdahan bridges in connecting the two countries.
The bridge is 13 meters wide with two traffic lanes and footpaths on each side.
Governor Mahavinichaimontri said the project would shorten travel time between the two countries and help promote tourism.
The number of tourists crossing between the two countries at this border checkpoint is expected to double from 40,000 to 80,000 a year as it facilitates driving from Nakhon Phanom to central Laos and Vietnam, said the Tourism Authority of Thailand's Nakhon Phanom Office Director Wichukorn Kularbsri.
To post your comments or start a discussion, visit the:
Ecotourism Laos Google Group.
Luang Prabang Approaches "Tipping Point"
Luang Prabang is fast approaching a tipping point according to the latest Luang Prabang Hotel Market Update by hospitality consulting firm, C9 Hotelworks, with the planned airport expansion and high-speed railway indicating imminent change.
"A short term identity crises looks inevitable as one chapter closes and another is set to begin," according to C9 Hotelworks, which could impact what has largely been a sustained low impact tourism footprint during the last decade.
Recent developments on the ground include the opening of an 18-hole golf course by a Korean joint venture company, which includes more phases for a 250 room hotel and 100 upscale villas.
The existing hotel supply of 44 hotels will increase 16 per cent by 2012, with two new branded properties from Anantara topping the list.
"Unfortunately, the next development cycle looks set to focus on growth for growth's sake, which is at odds with the destination's unique DNA," C9 Hotelworks reported.
"Airlift and rail access improvements will see the emergence of new opportunities for a wider range of hotel products due to an overall upward progression. We expect to see a new mid-scale hotel tier emerge as the broader market edges towards more reliance on volume."
To post your comments or start a discussion, visit the:
Ecotourism Laos Google Group.
Planning and Control Critical to Laos' Growth
Speaking at the 2011 Mekong Tourism Forum (MTF) in Pakse, Laos, on 28 May, global tourism consultant, Horwath HTL Chairman Robert Hecker stated planning and control were vital to handling growing Lao visitor numbers to avoid negative impacts.
"Once you have that balance you can start to manage what you're getting out of it: the income, the economic impacts, the social impacts. But without that planning aspect, you're lost," Mr Hecker said.
He added, "Steps toward wider tourism integration in the region have been achieved through large-scale infrastructure development, improved transport networks, and better access…Now we can get people there, the question is how many?"
Mr Hecker pointed to the stretch of the Mekong between Houei Xai in northeastern Laos' Bokeo Province, a border crossing point with Chiang Rai, Thailand, and Luang Prabang.
He said that this route is "already relatively well-popularized in terms of boats moving down the river from Houei Xai to Luang Prabang, and that's the ideal way to capture the Mekong experience."
The increase in boat traffic between the two northern Lao towns has brought the development of more guesthouses and activities for tourists along the river, especially in Oudomxay Province's Pakbeng Town, a popular overnight destination at the cruise's halfway mark.
"The ability to make a much more enriched travel experience is available now…The only issue is the fragility of Luang Prabang itself in terms of arrivals," he said.
One opportunity for rapidly boosting tourism throughout the region is simplifying visa regulations for those traveling across multiple Mekong region countries, although a surge in multi-country travelers would increase pressure on places like Luang Prabang, according to Mr Hecker.
He noted, "The region's natural elements, the people, the way of life, and the environment are its essential assets, and are highly sensitive to mass tourism."
Protecting these assets is a huge challenge for local authorities, who receive benefits, but must also deal with the consequences of infrastructure development.
For example, plans are underway to expand Luang Prabang's airport by 2015 to cope with more flights, and the planned railway between Kunming in China's Yunnan province and Vientiane will pass through Luang Prabang, which will also greatly increase arrivals.
Luang Prabang Provincial Tourism Department Deputy Director General Khamtanh Somphanvilay told forum delegates, "We have to prepare to manage tourism so it does not bring a lot of impacts to local (communities), and that's why we need a lot of stakeholders to be part of this team."
Mr Somphanvilay added, "Of course the government has to make the policies to manage tourism, given that it could be 35-36 per cent of the total income of (Luang Prabang) province. Nevertheless, we need to manage tourism in a proper way."
For more information, visit:
www.mekongtourismforum.org
To post your comments or start a discussion, visit the:
Ecotourism Laos Google Group.
Lanith Chief Emphasizes Tri-Party Social Enterprises at MTF
Speaking at the Mekong Tourism Forum (MTF) in Pakse, Laos, on 27 May, Lanith (Lao National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality) Chief Technical Advisor Peter Semone suggested development assistance organizations, governments, and the private sector should pool their financial resources to triple the amount of funding that feeds individual tourism projects to create "social enterprises".
Mr Semone said, "I cannot emphasize enough the importance of these three entities joining hands to establish a social enterprise…These are not just development projects but businesses, and they should be approached as businesses."
To drive his point home, Mr Semone quoted Nobel laureate Milton Friedman, "Do what you are good at and not just do good," adding that one person or project cannot do everything by themselves, and they need to find partners.
Mr Semone went on to explain that Lanith represents the "service side of the hospitality and tourism industry, or the 'software' (which is) probably more important than everything else (in the sector)."
He noted that to deliver a high degree of service quality, Lanith's focus is two-fold: education and skills training.
"The education side is aimed at molding career-minded students who want to advance in the industry, while skills training targets the current workforce, who need to develop the right skills and knowledge to deliver excellent service…This is the key message. Don't mix up the two."
To post your comments or start a discussion, visit the:
Ecotourism Laos Google Group.
Boten's "Golden City" Goes Bust
The Economist reported that the casinos in Luang Namtha's Boten Town at the Chinese border are now closed due to requests from Chinese authorities, after gamblers could not cover their betting losses, and dishonest Chinese casino operators.
The article stated, "When a Hong Kong-registered company signed a 30-year, renewable lease with the Lao government in 2003 to set up a 1,640-hectare special economic zone built with mainland money and expertise, 'Golden City' was touted as a futuristic hub for trade and tourism."
The writer continued, "The builders promptly went to work, and a cluster of pastel blocks rose amid the green hills of northern Laos. Thousands of Chinese tourists and entrepreneurs poured into the enclave, drawn largely by the forbidden pleasures and profits of gambling, which is illegal in China…Today the main casino, inside a three-star hotel, lies abandoned..."
In March the Chinese foreign ministry warned its citizens not to gamble in Laos, and strongly suggested Laos close its Boten casinos and gaming halls, which have since shut down.
The story went on to explain, "Golden City says it has pumped USD130 million into the project's first phase, including funds from outside investors."
A company official, Ginger He, said the lull presents the opportunity to re-brand Golden City as a decent tourist destination and import-export zone. She blamed the bad publicity on dishonest Chinese concessionaires who ran the casinos.
To post your comments or start a discussion, visit the:
Ecotourism Laos Google Group.
FESTIVALS & EVENTS
Mekong Tourism Forum in Pakse Hailed a Success:
Laos' southernmost Champasak Province took center stage in the Greater Mekong Sub-region by hosting the 12th Mekong Tourism Forum (MTF) on 27-28 May, in Pakse, which attracted almost 300 delegates including tourism and hospitality consultants, tour operators, international development agencies, and the global media.
According to Travel Impact Newswire Executive Editor Imtiaz Muqbil, "The MTF will boost traffic along the East-West and North-South corridors of the Asian Highway, as well as to Northeast Thailand, especially the neighboring cross-border province of Ubon Ratchathani."
Mr Muqbil added that the event will also help boost Champasak's share of Laos' fast-growing arrival numbers, most of which tend to visit the Vientiane or Luang Prabang.
"A major conduit has been the construction of the 1,380-metre Lao-Japan Bridge across the Mekong River. Champasak is located at the crossroads between north-south (Lao) Route 13 and east-west highways connecting Pakse with Ubon, as well as the southern (Lao) provinces of Salavan, Xekong, and Attapeu," he stated.
Mr Muqbil reported that Provincial Governor Sonexay Siphandone said, "Champasak is being positioned as the centre of trade and tourism and a gateway to the southern provinces of Laos. Over the past five years, more than 1,080,000 tourists have visited the province, with 301,669 visitors in 2010 alone."
According to Mr Muqbil, the MTF spent much time discussing the potential negative impacts of tourism, "but couldn't come up with any solutions beyond those which are traditionally discussed year after year."
First held in Bangkok in 1996, the MTF was idled for a few years before re-emerging in Siem Reap, Cambodia last year. Chiang Rai, Thailand, will host the event in 2012.
To post your comments or start a discussion, visit the:
Ecotourism Laos Google Group.
MTF Urges Tourism Growth Management in "Making of a Star":
Travel and tourism experts from Southeast Asia and abroad discussed what needs to be done to establish the Mekong Region as a well-known global tourism destination at the Mekong Tourism Forum (MTF) held in Pakse in southern Laos from 26-28 May, under the theme "Destination Mekong: The Making of a Star".
Speakers focused on investment, infrastructure, product, service, and marketing the Mekong Region, as many areas around the Mekong River have yet to be developed for tourism, which makes it unique and exotic for travelers that want to experience the "real Asia".
Executive Director of the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO) Mason Florence urged that tourism growth in the region has to be managed to preserve the culture. Mass tourism into some parts of region with brittle infrastructure could destroy some of the heritage.
Interim Pacific Asia Travel Association CEO Bill Calderwood agreed, and reminded attendees that while the US does not have the most visitors into the region, it represents the highest aggregate expenditure.
Asian Trails CEO Lutzi Matzig pointed to the growing number of Chinese tourists that are already coming, and will increasingly come into the region. While Chinese tourists represent a great opportunity to the region, developing the right products and services for this market is critical.
Jens Thraenhart, who facilitated the Mekong Tourism New Media Boot Camp prior to the MTF, mentioned that social media is a powerful channel to lure Chinese consumers, and can also be used to increase awareness for responsible tourism.
The MTF brought together over 250 attendees, and featured a trade fair, with booths constructed of recyclable material such as bamboo, to be reused in the communities after the conference.
