-
✴︎
A Jumbo Cause: Helping Lao Elephants beyond Covid-19
The Elephant Conservation Center (ECC) in Laos is currently seeking contributions to help keep both their conservation and educational work alive during the challenging pandemic. The goal is to raise $85,000 (about 80,000 €) to support part of the ECC’s operating costs during the next eight months with a fundraiser: “A Small Contribution to a Jumbo Cause”. ECC Co-Founder Sebastien Duffillot noted that despite a low number of Covid-19 cases officially reported in Laos, the country has been in lockdown since the end of March, and tourists have cancelled their visits to the ECC. “With visitors representing 85% of our revenue, we are facing difficult times,” he said. “Moreover, the crisis struck during the ‘high tourist season’, leaving us with at least eight to nine difficult months ahead, as no visitors are expected to be back before the end of the year.” Mr Duffillot said the Covid-19 outbreak has required ECC to reshuffle its agenda. They are seeking contributions from people who have visited the ECC, and those who know their work, through “A Small Contribution to a Jumbo Cause” fundraising campaign. “We need your help,” Mr Duffillot said. “During these challenging times, we fear the impact it will have on the Asian captive elephant population could be devastating, and we believe our project brings real hope for their survival.” He added, “We know times are challenging for so many people, and we appreciate any amount you are able to give. This will allow us to continue to care after our 34 elephants.” He concluded, “Visitors come to the ECC and love it. Our mission, beyond conservation work, presents the opportunity to meet elephants in their natural habitat. It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that leaves lasting imprints for some, and changes the trajectory of lives for others.” To make A Small Contribution to a Jumbo Cause, click here Visit ECC’s website.
-
✴︎
THAI to Rekindle Lao Flights in July
According to Routes, Thai Airways has announced it will launch a daily Bangkok-Vientiane flight starting 1 July, on board an Airbus A330-300.
-
✴︎
ORLA Tours Heads Back to the Office in Laos
Laos locked down in late March, but this did not slow down ORLA Tours. They remained busy, with the team working from home. “Working from home, scattered throughout the country, our ORLA Tours team kept in touch daily over Skype. Updating our website, writing new articles on our travel blog (to be published soon!) and partaking in webinars with our travel partners, we have remained united and active,” said Phasouk and Charly, Co-founders of ORLA. When Laos partially re-opened on 4 May, the ORLA team in Luang Prabang headed back to the office. “After such a lengthy period of working at home, we are flexing our office muscles again and are already hard at work arranging reservations made for the end of 2020. Our foreign travel partners, as well as several groups of private travellers, are counting on our creativity and on our team of qualified and dedicated specialists to prepare their future adventures,” the ORLA co-founders said. To find out more about what ORLA did during its downtime, read the full press release.
