7:32 PM | Posted by samakomlao

Green Future For Lao Tourism !

Laos expects to see about 1.3 million visitor arrivals this year, 10% more than last year.

This estimate reflects the overall expansion of the tourist industry in Laos over the past 31 years since the country was established as the Lao People's Democratic Republic in 1975.

The rapid growth of the sector is the result of the government's new economic strategy, launched at the same time as the country opened its doors to the world in 1986... more info

Parallel to economic development, the country has become an international tourist destination.

The government and people of Laos have made great efforts to develop the economy while at the same time preserving national heritage sites as tourist attractions.

Laos does not have typical tourist attractions such as beaches or theme parks, but draws visitors instead with its rich culture, traditional lifestyle, and unspoiled natural beauty.

The charm of Luang Prabang's 600-year-old architecture won it inclusion in the United Nations' Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) World Heritage List in 1995.

The ancient city was the royal capital of Laos during the Lane Xang kingdom from the 13th to 16th centuries. The town became the first World Heritage site declared in Laos, ensuring the preservation of its mixture of traditional Lao and French colonial architecture, along with some 63 Buddhist temples that evaded bombing during the Indochina war.

The city's magnificent temples are considered to be among the most beautiful still standing in Southeast Asia, and the city is renowned as the cultural and religious capital of Laos because of them and because of the cultural traditions maintained by local residents.

Despite its remote location in the midst of rolling mountains, the unique character and charm of Luang Prabang has helped to make it one of the most popular tourist destinations in the region, for both Lao and foreign travellers.

The ancient ruins of Vat Phou in Champassak province are part of the long history of contact between the Lao, Khmer and Champa peoples.

Vat Phou is a complex of religious edifices and temples, ascending from a low baray (man-made lake) to a natural spring at the peak of a sacred mountain, with an impressive view over the Mekong.

The temples show several styles from different periods: Hindu, Buddhist and animist. The site is recognised as one of the most important sanctuaries of Cambodia's Khmer Empire, which thrived from the 9th to 13th centuries.

Vat Phou is the largest example of Khmer architecture in Laos, featuring the most ancient Sanskrit inscription anywhere in Southeast Asia. Vat Phou became Laos' second World Heritage Site to be recognised by UNESCO.

At the other end of Laos, the northeastern province of Xieng Khuang is one of the country's poorest provinces, but is also rich in culture and natural beauty, featuring pre-historic sites such as the Plain of Jars.

The Plain of Jars is another of Laos' tourist attractions. The mysterious relics of a bygone era were hewn from solid rock between 2,500 and 3,000 years ago.

The National Tourism Authority of Laos and UNESCO began their Plain of Jars Heritage Tourism Programme in 2003, fostering widespread interest. The Plain of Jars is expected to become Laos' third World Heritage Site in the near future.

The Lao National Tourism Administration is pleased with the growing figures since 1999, when the country first began its "Visit Lao Year" promotion, marking a significant turning point in the growth of tourism.

In addition to direct promotion, important international events hosted by Laos in recent years have attracted more visitors and raised the country's profile, such as the 10th ASEAN Summit, the ASEAN Tourism Forum, and the Indian-ASEAN Car Rally.

The number of tourist arrivals in Laos has increased from around 37,000 visitors in 1991, to around 895,000 in 2004, earning the country USD118.9m. Last year, almost 1.1 million visitors came to Laos.

This is a trend that the government wants to see continue. In particular, it wants to expand Laos' ecotourism offerings. In an age when environmentally responsible tourism experiences are increasingly in demand, Laos offers extraordinary new opportunities for the discerning traveller.

With a reputation for warm hospitality and a number of internationally supported ecotourism projects already underway, Laos is well positioned as a world-class ecotourism destination.

With extraordinary growth in tourism across Southeast Asia, ecotourism in Laos offers huge potential to create employment and help achieve the national development objectives for poverty elimination, economic growth and conservation of the nation's natural and cultural resources.

The Nam Ha National Biodiversity Conservation Area in Luang Namtha in the northwest of Laos is an example of what the National Tourism Administration seeks to encourage.

Launched by the administration in 1999, with assistance from UNESCO and the New Zealand government, the highly successful Nam Ha initiative introduced the concept of ecotourism to Laos and in so doing received significant international acclaim and a UNDP award in recognition of its contribution to poverty reduction.

To promote the government's ecotourism strategy, a website (http://www.ecotourism-laos.com/) has been set up, providing information both for tourists, and on policy directions for the sector.

20 National Biodiversity Conservation Areas have been established, covering 14%t of Laos. These areas, and the land around them, are home to ethnic groups with rich cultural traditions, who will ultimately benefit from tourist dollars generated by conservation projects.

The administration's plans are just one part of the development picture, with the government also developing a wider policy to increase tourism generally by improving transportation and infrastructure around the country.

The result should be that by 2010, around 1.5 million tourists will be enjoying the hidden delights of Laos and contributing to the local economy. (By M Vongsam-ang, Vientiane Times/ANN)

Sinchew-i 2006/12/05

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