The fate of Lao ecotourism
Posted Thursday, June 14, 2007, 3:18 PM by Lonely Planet
As anyone who has travelled to Southeast Asia will probably already know, everyone is talking about Laos. The Land of a Million Elephants is expecting a record number of tourists in 2007. And many of them are coming to trek through the pristine forests and stay with the chilled out locals in remote villages. In short, they're coming to trek out of their comfort zones and into the 'real Laos' - and I can tell you, it's quite a trip.
This year there will be more trekking options than ever. In the south, new community-based treks are attracting travellers to the remote Xe Pian National Protected Area and the gothic karsts and valleys of Phu Hin Boun NPA, while the elephant viewing tower at Phou Khao Khuaoy NPA near Vientiane has also become popular. Further north, treks out of Vieng Phouka, Phongsali and Muang Sing are all vying with the original Nam Ha NPA experience for a slice of your trekking dollars.
The whole point of these treks is to channel your money into the pockets of those who would otherwise have to abuse the forest, or sell it, in order to live. Significantly, these projects appear to have strong support from the Lao government, which has even written community-based ecotourism into its national poverty reduction strategy. Congratulations, Lao government, for your vision.
However, all this seems to be at risk since one of Laos's ecotourism pioneers, Sompawn Anthisouk, was abducted while on his way to an appointment with the police in January. Pawn, who is a co-owner of The Boat Landing, Laos's best-known and longest-running eco-lodge, hasn't been heard of since he was taken. Nobody has claimed responsibility, Lao newspapers haven't reported it, and the police investigation has still not produced any answers despite witnesses who claim to have seen the abduction.
Just who those men were remains a mystery. What is in less doubt, however, is that the incident has raised some big questions about the future of eco-tourism in Laos. If Pawn is released these doubts will probably disappear. But if he remains missing, attracting the investment needed to grow this sort of tourism - and help alleviate poverty - might be much more difficult. So for the sake of his family and his country, we're still hoping to see Pawn back working in Luang Nam Tha.
Andrew Burke is the author of Lonely Planet's Laos guide.
For more information on Laos ecotourism try:
www.ecotourismlaos.com
www.ecotourismlaos/forum2007
For more discussion on Pawn, go to the Thorn Tree.
Labels: Asia and Pacific, Sustainable and responsible tourism, Travelsnitch
Join the Discussion:
4 Comments:
Andrew, I think I was the first to break the Sompawn story on webdiary.com.au/cms..I frequently get asked where he is. The gossip around town is that he has been taken to a seminar in Huaphan. The gossip is.. I keep having to use that phrase as people are too frightened to give th story and lao will only answer a direct question with a yes or no.. that 3 remain in Huaphan.
My neighbour is a highly placed UN wallah who has jurisdiction for this and even he is asking me..
His wife was told by a medium that he was still alive but that is as reliable as the winner of the grand national.
So we wait. i am hoping some questions will be asked at the upcoing ecotourism conference. The Lao are unused to being questioned or reported on as they keep their own guys and gals under such a tight rein.. It should be a bigger story than it is.. Now I am writing on the devastation of large projects in lao.
Oh yeah - Laos is a beautiful country. Be sure to checkout Vietiane, Luang Prabang and Vang Vien. The Plain of Jars must be an incredible site as well.
Hope I will make it there next trip...
;-)
Cheers from Bali,
Chris
Life is what you make it!
http://www.nomad4ever.com
Laos is a beautiful country. Even though I live in another Southeast Asian Country--the Philippines (thank you Mike Looby for being brave enough to write about us!-- I was still awe-struck by Laos.
I think Laos is underestimated and is yet to be discovered. I hope it retains its unique "at-home" vibe that it gives off to its visitors.
Wherever Pawn is, I hope God is with him.
-Pam-
Here a link to anonymous' story:
http://blog.sustainabletravel.com/do_i_hear_an_eco.html
Post a Comment
« Read more on the blog homepage