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Laos Gets “China Ready”
The Institute of Mass Media, Culture and Tourism (IMCT) launched the China-Ready Training Program on 25-26 December 2019, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Vientiane to provide local tourism businesses with information on Chinese outbound tourism, how to better access this market, and ways to tailor products and services to better meet the needs of Chinese tourists. With the support of IMCT, the China Outbound Tourism Research Institute (COTRI) and its Founder and CEO Prof Dr Wolfgang Georg Arlt adapted the international China Ready Training programme specifically for the Lao market. At the organized seminar, he delivered China Ready’s four-module pilot programme to more than 30 participants representing key public and private sector stakeholders. As part of the build-up to this event, COTRI trained 12 trainers from IMCT who will go on to deliver the China-Ready programme in Luang Prabang and Vang Vieng in January, before rolling the program out to a further six other provinces during 2020. Dr Arlt has more than four decades of experience in working with the Chinese market. He founded COTRI in 2004, and is currently a Fellow at several prominent global societies, a Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) board member, a member of the UNWTO’s Expert Panel, and works closely with Hong Kong Polytech. “The China Ready program’s goals are to provide information, enable businesses to adapt products to the Chinese market,” he explained. IMCT Lead Trainer and Curriculum Developer Bouavanh Soukhathammavong added, “The objective is to provide information about the Chinese market needed to attract more visitors, who spend more money. Businesses should know how to satisfy the different needs of the Chinese market.” China Ready comes on the heels of a successful Visit Laos-China Year 2019, said IMCT Deputy Director Darany Phommavongsa. “The program’s launch in Vientiane seeks ways of welcoming more Chinese tourists, while contributing to the economy.” Deputy Director Darany emphasised that tourism businesses need to evolve. “We need to get them ready. This is very important. Businesses must understand what products and services the Chinese want, and what they spend on. They also need to learn how to attract the Chinese market. How do we get them?” The first of the four modules that make up the China Ready programme focuses on China’s outbound tourism development and current situation, with a spotlight on Laos and the Mekong region. The session provides demographic data and information about the Chinese market. The second module explores best practices in hospitality customer service catering to Chinese tourists. The third module zeroes in on creating products for different niche Chinese market segments and adapting existing ones, including how to offer Chinese mobile payment systems. The final module of China Ready explores communication and distribution channels, especially on social media, and how to connect with distribution partners in China. The training is in Lao language, and participants receive a Certificate of Attendance. The China Ready Training programme is supported by the Skills for Tourism Project • LAO/029, which is co-financed by the Governments of Lao PDR, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and Switzerland, and implemented by the Ministry of Education and Sports of Lao PDR and the Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency (LuxDev). For more details on LuxDev Project LAO/029, click here.
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Luxury Homestay Opens in Khmu/Hmong Village
Ban San Oudom village, Northern Laos This village of 70 families is in Xieng Ngern district about an hour drive from the picturesque UNESCO city of Luang Prabang. Ban San Oudom looks over Phonsaart with mountainous views of raw primary jungle. It is a beautiful area and now tourists have the opportunity to experience village life whilst bringing much-needed income into the local village by staying in the newly built Eco bungalow. The village home stay is built from clay bricks and provides a little bit of luxury where sensitive and culturally interested travellers can enjoy an ethnic interaction responsibility while staying in ecologically built accommodation that supports the community with ongoing income. The newly finished homestay is an adobe build made with local clay, straw and water. The only material brought in from the outside world is the concrete used for the foundation. Tiger Trail Travel and World Volunteer have been providing immersive cultural exchanges for students to the village for 3 years to build the eco bungalow. Students have come from Beirut, Hong Kong, United Arab Emirates, UK, Germany, Sweden, Korea, China and Malaysia. They spend 4-5 days a week working on the eco bungalow making solid bricks, building walls and plastering the walls with a mix made from sand and tapioca. The students learn about responsible development and visit other community-based projects in the area such as Khaiphen Restaurant, the Lao Buffalo Dairy, TAEC and Big Brother Mouse. Tiger Trail Travel and World Volunteer have a long-standing partnership bringing school groups to Laos to support local communities by building eco bungalows. The three eco bungalows they have built provide an ongoing revenue stream to communities. To read the full story, click here.
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NamKhan Ecolodge Presents a Natural Lifestyle Stay…and Horse Riding!
NamKhan Ecolodge is a natural eco-resort, respectful of its environment and local community. Get enchanted in our green sanctuary located along the Nam Khan River in Luang Prabang. Travellers can reconnect with nature, discover traditional Lao culture, and immerse themselves in tropical food, forests, eco-farming, and animal stable. Our Eco-resort is dedicated to sustainable tourism. We offer recently renovated rooms such as handmade bungalows, Lotus Tents for an incredible glamping experience, as well as an independent luxurious Art Villa. Our natural accommodation is located in the heart of NamKhan Ecolodge, surrounded by the eco-farm on one side and a garden on the other, and furnished with home-made interior and woodwork by our carpenters. Enjoy a peaceful ambience, connected to the nature, during your Lao lifestyle stay. Our rooms are decorated with Lao-style teak furniture and woven bamboo items from our bamboo workshop. Wooden flooring and bright Lao silk bedspreads add pops of colour. Rooms are equipped with a wooden teak desk, safe, tea kettle, and fan to ensure a comfortable stay. Our rooms also feature nice bathrooms with vanity sinks, hot water rain showers, toiletries and amenities such as hair dryers, bamboo tooth brushes, bathrobes, slippers and natural ecological soap dispensers. It’s all you need for a peaceful stay in our eco-farm and gardens. Our property allows guest to discover an eco-resort conscious about its environment and its inhabitants. Travellers can explore our tropical gardens, get enchanted by our animals at the horse-riding stable, jog or trek on our marked trails, relax at our beach and swimming pool area, practice yoga and Chi Kung, and relieve stress at the meditation centre. Have fun tubing or create your own bamboo items with our bamboo weavers. This is an excellent property to stay with friends and family. Immerse yourself in an enchanting ecolodge with a wide range of sports and adventure offers. Horse Riding Stables NamKhan Horse Stable was born by pure chance. While a horse owner was walking in the Laotian countryside, she discovered a magnificent place: NamKhan Project. She already had a Hmong pony, and the idea came by itself…her horse would be so nice here. After an exchange with the owners of NamKhan Project, they decided to create a stable worthy of the name, which can accommodate many residents. This is how NamKhan Horse Stable was born. The stables are an excellent outing place for friends and family. Immerse yourself in an enchanting green sanctuary and discover the Lao countryside on horseback or just enjoy the traditional Hmong horses at our stables. Our four-legged friends are well trained with ethology training. Horses are mounted without jaws in their mouths. The various hiking trails allow you to discover the village of Donkeo, known for its bamboo basket workshops. You can also spend a moment into the forest trails as well as trails along the Khan River, and experienced riders can cross the river on horseback. The pony rides are secure, and supervised by a qualified instructor. Wearing a safety helmet is mandatory. Different rides are available upon request as well as a package with accommodation. Horseback riding starts for 3-year-old children through adults weighing no more than 55 kilos, as the Hmong Horses are only 1m10 to 1m40. Opening hours: 07:00-18:00 every day. During hot season, horses cannot be ridden during midday – 12:00-15:00 – because it is too hot for the horse and rider. Our residents are waiting for you at NamKhan Horses Stables. Visit www.namkhanecolodge.com
