Sustainability: the time is Lao
The country relies on its stunning environment and fauna
For a least developed country - that is, a country with severe handicaps to growth such as an undernourished population, a lack of adult literacy and poor infrastructure - how do you begin to develop a sustainable strategy that will haul people out of poverty?
Such a question is one which faces Lao PDR, nestled between China, Thailand and Vietnam, in the north of South-East Asia.
Since communist Laos opened up to private development in 1986, macro projects around hydropower and mining have attracted billions in investment from its Asean neighbours. But as recession in the West takes hold, and the markets for these projects have shrunk, Laos’ goal of transcending LDC status by 2020 is suffering setbacks, making tourism an even more attractive option. And last month’s World Eco-tourism conference in its capital, Vientiane, is further indication of the government’s increasing commitment to this sector.
A natural allure
With its dramatic karst mountains, forests, waterfalls and pristine countryside, Laos is an attractive and relatively cheap option for tourists looking for outdoor activities. Its UNESCO world heritage town, Luang Prabang, is also a major draw.
"At the moment, there are a couple of destinations that are becoming victims of their own success..."
Laos’ undeveloped state is also a golden opportunity to leapfrog to a sustainable future. The Luang Namtha eco-tourism project – with local economic benefits deriving from community-based cultural and nature tours – which won the 2001 United Nations Development Award set a benchmark for eco-tourism and has inspired many native entrepreneurs such as Inthy Deuansavan, managing director of Green Discovery Laos.
“I believe in [preserving] the rich natural resources and culture of Laos. I’ve seen the good and bad impact from tourism on destinations. I have also learned from how to [manage] sustainable tourism from the Luang Namtha eco-tourism project,” he told Sideways News.
Tourism, however, comes with its downsides, in that it can dilute cultural identity, traditions and heritage through over-catering for the tourist palette, while degrading the natural environment through over-capacity.
One such example is Vang Vieng, where ubiquitous generic video hangouts and banging riverside bars have become hallmarks of the town - at the expense of its cultural identity.
“At the moment there are a couple of destinations that are becoming victims of their own success. Both Luang Prabang and Vang Vieng have developed dramatically and with not as much control as maybe should have been in place,” Lee Sheridan, general manager and tourism consultant at Teamworkz Consulting said.
New tourism development strategies
Village-based tourism – the concept of channelling visitors to destinations to stimulate the local economy – has long been promoted by the Lao government and key development agencies, but new ways of thinking – such as developing tourism supply chains – are evolving to help channel the flow of tourist money outside of specific locations, spreading the economic benefit to a wider community. This can be targeted to directly benefit poorer sections of society.
