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Northern Lao Provinces Target Asean CBT Standards
By Souknilundon Southivongnorath Tourism officials in three northern provinces learned the process for major tourism sites to meet ASEAN Community Based Tourism Standards. The Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism together with staff from Bokeo, Oudomxay and Luang Prabang tourism departments convened three training sessions on the evaluation of Asean Community Based Tourism Standards at the Gibbon Experience in Bokeo, Namkat Yorla Pa in Oudomxay, and Kuang Xi waterfall in Luang Prabang province. Asean Tourism Standards trainer Mr Hinphet Sayavong said the sessions were very important if tourist attractions hoped to win awards for achieving Asean Community Based Tourism Standards. If their evaluations were not in keeping with these standards, they wouldn’t be eligible for an award. “There are many evaluation forms that have to be filled in for submission to Asean Community Based Tourism Standards officials, if an application for an award is made. This is the agreement among Asean tourism ministers, who would like to see all local communities at Asean tourism sites benefiting from tourism,” Mr Hinphet said. The training sessions were led by the Director General of the Tourism Development Department, Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr Aloun Bounmisay, together with the directors of the three provincial tourism departments from October 21-27. The Tourism Development Department said the Asean Community Based Tourism Standards are among seven Asean tourism standards adopted by Asean tourism ministers, and all of the participating countries are working to achieve them. The main objective of the standards is to help Asean nations jointly improve the quality of community-based tourism, as this is seen as important for developing tourism and increasing the number of visitors. “The concept of successful community-based tourism is that local people benefit from tourist attractions by working in the services, hospitality, food and other sectors,” Mr Hinphet explained. This not only provides people with jobs but also helps to improve quality in many aspects of tourism. The Tourism Development Department will continue to assist tourist attractions across the country to qualify for Asean standards awards. Source: Vientiane Times
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Saffron Coffee Kicks Off Harvest Time with Exclusive Guided Tasting
It’s harvest time, and Saffron Coffee’s Espresso, Brew Bar, and Roastery on the Mekong in Luang Prabang is celebrating with the launch of “Exclusive Guided Tasting” led by Saffron Assistant Director Derek Smith. The 60-90 minute guided tasting, being offered from 12 November 2018 – 28 February 2019 by appointment, gives coffee drinkers the opportunity to gain insight into Saffron Coffee’s unique crop to cup story. “You can expand your knowledge of Lao coffee, and refine your palate by learning to distinguish between flavor profiles of Saffron’s single origin coffees,” said Mr Smith. He added the guided tasting focuses on Saffron Coffee’s three passions in the production of specialty Arabica unique to northern Laos. “Coffee drinkers will learn about Saffron Coffee and its sustainable coffee farming approach, see coffee roasting, and enjoy alternative-brewed coffee while enjoying fresh baked goods,” Mr Smith said. “They will watch trained staff brew our coffee to optimize taste and gain a deeper appreciation of the time and effort invested into the processing of our specialty coffee.” Mr Smith also noted that the Saffron Café’s cascara ricotta cigar is taking off, and is part of the Tasting Set Menu. A 26 October, Trip Advisor post by KNSYC1 stated, “I absolutely adore the cascara ricotta cigar – both for its presentation and taste. The crunchiness of the shell and creaminess of the filling are a real match made in heaven. Most importantly, it is my favorite sweet and tangy mix. It leaves my sweet tooth completely satisfied.” Mr Smith went on to explain what harvest time entails. The staffs’ day begins with a by driving up to four hours from Luang Prabang City to villages. Here, they purchase ripe red coffee cherries at above market price directly from their partner farming families. “The challenge is to get farmers to trust that we will return week in, week out, for the duration of harvest,” Mr Smith explained. “They’re still tempted to pick the not-yet-ripe cherries because they have a fear the buyer won’t return. This is ingrained thinking for many farmers in the north.” He continued, “Red ripe cherries are good for farmers and for us. The ripe cherries weigh up to twice as much as under-ripe cherries, and ripe cherries make the coffee taste better. Better for farmers – they get paid more per cherry – and better for the coffee drinkers.” To book an Exclusive Guided Tasting, email Derek Smith: dsmith@saffroncoffee.com All tastings include coffee and fresh baked goods. Saffron Coffee
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Lao Railway Adds First 1,000-Meter Tunnel
A Chinese engineering company has completed the first train tunnel longer than 1,000 meters along the Lao railway. Nateuy No. 1 Tunnel is located in the northern Lao province of Luang Namtha bordering China. Huang Zongwen, a senior official with the China Railway No. 5 Engineering Group, which oversees the tunnel’s construction, told Xinhua the construction of the 1,158-meter-long tunnel started in June 2017. “That the tunnel passes soft rocks all the way in the mountain brought some difficulties in construction and especially, affected the digging pace,” Mr Huang said. In December 2017, the 301-meter Ban Somsanook No. 2 Tunnel in Vientiane Province, bored by Sino Corporation Engineering Bureau 15 Co., Ltd., became the first completed tunnel on the railway route, and the first road-and-railway tunnel in Laos. The China-Laos railway has a total length of more than 414 km with bridges and tunnels comprising 60%. It links the Mohan-Boten border checkpoint in Luang Namtha and Vientiane Capital. Trains on the route is designed to run at 160 kph. The railway is expected to be fully operational in December 2021. Source: Xinhua News
