Luang Prabang regains top ranking in tourism awards

The world heritage listed town of Luang Prabang has returned to the top of a list of best tourist destinations as polled by Wanderlust Travel Magazine.


To make sure Luang Prabang retains its status as a top tourist destination, officials are actively working on long term plans for cultural, religious and historic conservation and development.

The magazine announces its Wanderlust Travel Awards annually.

This year Luang Prabang received first place with a score of 94.74 percent, followed by Siena , Italy , with 94.67 percent and Berlin , Germany , with 94.15 percent.

Last year's top ranked city, Kyoto , Japan , came in fifth with 93.33 percent.

Luang Prabang won the title from 2006 to 2008 before falling to seventh in 2009 because the city could not maintain its beauty, attractiveness and cleanliness, said Deputy Head of the Luang Prabang provincial Tourism Department, Mr Khamtan Somphanvilay.

“We were voted back as number one this year because the relevant sectors actively worked together to address the issues raised by UNESCO relating to the town's heritage areas and conservation,” he said. This year's award was for the period December 2008 to November 2009 and was decided by visitors to each town over that period.

In most categories, readers of the magazine were asked to list up to four entries and score each one on its merits.

The final positions are based on an average score for the entry (converted to a percentage) – so the results are based on merit rather than the number of votes received.

“To be the winner is not easy, but to maintain top ranking is even more difficult so the various sectors have to formulate long-term development and conservation plans,” Mr Khamtan said.

To maintain the ranking, the bodies involved will increase cooperation efforts.

The awards will be officially presented on March 14, but the department has asked that the date be postponed to March 15 to allow it to prepare and make public announcements.

The award will again feature in the annual Lao New Year parade, to be held in Luang Prabang in April.



Luang Prabang was granted world heritage status by UNESCO in 1995. The town is the former capital of the ancient kingdom of Lane Xang , or the land of a million elephants.

Luang Prabang is a cultural centre in the region, with its numerous temples a testimony to a wealth of culture and civilisation.

By Phonesavanh Sangsomboun
Vientianetimes

When the weather gets hot, the cicadas chirp, shrubs come into bloom and the air is filled with the scent of frangipani, it is a sure sign that Pi Mai Lao (Lao New Year) is just around the corner.

The New Year water festival is a special festival for the people of Laos and neighbouring countries, where it is celebrated nationwide. This year the festival in Laos takes place from April 14-16.

Champassak Tourism De partment Deputy Director, Sivon Vangkonvilay, said they would hold similar activities to the ones they had last year and that are organised by other provinces - a Nang Sangkhan (Miss Lao New Year 2009) beauty contest and other activities that visitors will enjoy...more >>

This year, however, we are designating a special area for the celebrations by closing the road along the Mekong riverbank. People will be able to have fun down by the river and on the sandbanks, and it will also be easier for the police to manage the crowd and reduce road accidents, Sivon said.

Other plans in Champassak include a larger Miss Lao New Year parade, with decorated floats and more performers and people to be involved. The parade starts in the city centre and will follow a 1km route to Luang temple.

Food and drink stalls will also be set up for visitors in popular tourist destinations such as Khone Phapheng, Vat Phou, Tad Fan, and Pha Suam.

Savannakhet province is preparing for the festival by decorating the city with flowering shrubs and clearing a road to a new tourist site, Nong Lom, which is just outside the city centre. There will be food, local produce and water stalls available. Last year the province attracted 120,000 visitors and this year is hoping to attract as many tourists as possible.

An added attraction in Savannakhet province over the New Year is Tanghang Stupa, where visitors and devotees will gather to pour water on each other and trickle scented water over the ancient Buddha image. The highlight of Lao New Year celebrations in Khammuan province will take on a different face this year as authorities have allocated a specific area for activities in a bid to reduce road accidents. The 1km square area in central Thakhek district is close to the riverside and the provincial stadium.

For those who don't want to travel out of Vientiane , there is plenty to do here. This year's celebrations will be similar to those in Luang Prabang, with a Nang Sangkhan (Miss Lao New Year) parade. The organisers are currently in the process of selecting the most beautiful young women to sit atop the floats.

Another option for those wanting to celebrate Lao New Year is to take a trip to Viengvieng, where you can be sure of a good time. The limestone mountains, river kayaking, mountain climbing and trekking will get you out of the city. Vangvieng district, in Vientiane province, is a 3-4 hour drive north of the capital.

But if you want a taste of the original spirit of Lao New Year, you should go to Luang Prabang province where you can see the traditional customs on display, as they have been practised for many years.

Director of the Luang Prabang Tourism Department, Mr Khamphuay Phommavong, said this year's activities would be the same as usual, except for a trade fair organised by the Department of Export Promotion of Thailand's Ministry of Commerce.

The trade fair will take place at the That Luang Stupa (the old stadium) on April 10, and will be followed by performances such as magic tricks and songs and dances performed by artists from the Information and Culture Department.

There will also be acts from local recording companies, including The Cells, Overdance, A'pact, Touly, Hip Hop Banna, Black 5, Big T and some Thai artists.

The Nang Sangkhan beauty contest will take place over two days, April 12-13, on the same stage as the concert.

"The Hotel and Guesthouse Association is expecting a large increase in visitors to the province and 90 percent of hotels and guesthouses have already been booked. To accommodate everyone we are working with local residents to provide home-stays ranging in price from 100,000 -150,000 kip. Anyone who's interested can contact us directly," Mr Khamphuay said.

"This year we are working with traffic police and residents in the area of Phousy Stupa to ease traffic congestion and facilitate transportation to and from events by providing car parks. Last year we had a problem with traffic jams due to the large number of visitors all wanting to be in the same place at the same time."

On April 14 everyone can gather to make sand stupas on the riverbank in Chomphet district.

On April 15 there will be a textile exhibition in Phanom village along with traditional dancing by local ethnic groups. There'll also be a baci ceremony followed by the Nang Sangkhan parade in the afternoon, which goes from Thatnoi temple to Xiengthong temple.

On April 16 there will be an almsgiving ceremony at Phousy, followed by a spirit worship ceremony in the evening.

Vientianetimes