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New Orchid Species found in Lao Market
The most recent publication of Orchideen Journal documented the discovery of a new orchid species in Laos, Paphiopedilum papilio-laoticus. According to to Vientiane Times, Sulivong Luangaphay, a long-time plant lover and orchid aficionado, said a new orchid was seen in a street market in Vientiane after being taken from a nearby protected area in May. Coincidentally, the orchid was brought to Sulivong’s attention on National Arbour Day on June 1. The paper was contributed to the Orchideen Journal by André Schuiteman from the the herbarium at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, UK.and co-authored by Vientiane resident Mr Sulivong Luangaphay and Shunsuke Iio. The name given to the flower comes from the Latin papilio, meaning butterfly, and laoticus, from Laos, referring both to the large dorsal sepal that resembles a butterfly wing and the origin of the species. From all the other species in the Paphiopedilum section it differs in the much larger flowers, the white staminode, and in the unique colours of the dorsal sepal: white flushed light purple with a yellow-green blotch at the base and with prominent purple spots that have a lighter centre, like the eye spots on the wings of some butterflies. “This showy and undoubtedly very rare species will hopefully be propagated from seed soon, and we urge orchid amateurs not to buy any plants of this species that could be wild-collected. In a few years’ time, it should become widely available as legally propagated plants do not pose a threat to their continued existence in the wild,” the paper noted. At present, 13 or 14 species of Paphiopedilum are known to exist in Laos, according to the report. Considering that most species of Paphiopedilum occur on limestone, often with highly restricted distribution areas, and that Laos has extensive and poorly studied limestone karst landscapes, it is to be expected that more endemic species of Paphiopedilum will be discovered as the more inaccessible parts of Laos are explored. Unfortunately, commercial plant collectors rather than scientists may be the first to come across such new species, and these may end up in heaps of plants sold at local markets, said the report. Source: Xinhua
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Lao Tourism Minister Vows to Remove Tourism Barriers
With various barriers hindering the development of the tourism industry, authorities in charge will work closely with the relevant sectors to remove these obstacles, a minister told parliament yesterday. Responding to questions raised by National Assembly (NA) members at the ongoing 5th ordinary session of parliament, Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Prof. Dr Bosengkham Vongdara said he agreed with their comments that various hindrances existed. As an example, the processing of documents when entering and exiting Laos is time-consuming, which annoys tourists, the minister said. “This is a fact,” he told the biannual session, which was chaired by NA President Mrs Pany Yathotou. Another irksome issue is that visitors have been asked to pay unwarranted fees or fines at checkpoints on roads and at tourist sites, which is upsetting for both tourists and tour operators. “This is also a fact,” the minister added. Transport charges by various service providers vary and tend to be expensive, while the entry fees at some tourist attractions were unreasonable, he admitted. “In addition, the overall cost of living in the provinces and in Laos as a whole is high compared to neighbouring countries,” Prof. Dr Bosengkham said. A government report issued last year suggested that the price of food staples in Laos was 10-20 percent higher than in Thailand and Vietnam. The minister added that many designated tourist sites do not have any facilities while some are unsafe, with the result that some foreign tourists have died or been injured. The tourism industry also suffers from poorly trained tour guides who have an inadequate grasp of the country’s history and especially the historical associations of some visitor attractions. There is also a shortage of tour guides who are fluent in foreign languages, the minister said. The ministry has attempted to address the situation by promulgating a number of laws and regulations as a reference in regulating these problems and promoting tourism, he told parliament. The minister said his staff have worked with the ministries of Foreign Affairs, Public Security, Industry and Commerce, and Public Works and Transport to overcome the various difficulties that have arisen. Despite these efforts and the considerable progress that has been made so far, the minister admitted that some barriers remain, underlining the need to keep working with the relevant sectors to address them. NA member for Vientiane Mr Saithong Keoduangdy called for the government to invest more, with appropriate measures, to develop the tourism industry, saying tourism could become an important pillar of economic growth given Laos’ huge potential in this area. Also addressing the session on Tuesday, Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith described the barriers as shortcomings and vowed to address them as part of measures to drive the economy. The premier pledged to invest more in the upgrade of roads and related facilities to provide better access to tourist sites, while continuing to improve tourism and related services and pushing tour operators to upgrade their operations so they were more competitive. In recent years the government has allocated a certain budget and the ministry has mobilised support from international organisations and friendly countries to invest in the development of tourist sites in many provinces, according to Prof. Dr Bosengkham. A number of training sessions have been organised for tour guides, tour operators and hospitality service operators to upgrade their professions and services to Asean standards. As a result, some tour and hotel operators have been granted Asean awards. By Souksakhone Vaenkeo, Vientiane Times
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New & Cool @ Mekong Riverview
The Mekong Riverview Hotel in Luang Prabang is currently developing the offsite Palm Tree Health Spa with a swimming pool, and the Viewpoint Organic Garden to grow their own produce. Both projects are well underway, and are scheduled to be up and running in 2018. Palm Tree Health Spa The Mekong Riverview team has been hard at work developing the land for the new Palm Tree Health Spa. To reach the spa from the hotel, guests take a two-minute boat ride across the Mekong. An electric cart then takes them the final 400 metres to the spa. The Palm Tree Health Spa will also be open to outside customers, who purchase a massage. This gives them access to all the facilities, including a salt water pool, Jacuzzi, gym, sauna, table tennis, badminton, and bistro. The spa’s facilities are built to the highest standard, using only top quality materials and furnishings. The spa plans to launch the unique heated, salt-water pool on 1 October, with a soft-opening leading up to the high-season start. The Jacuzzi and a kid’s pool sit next to the 7-by-15 metre mail pool. The Viewpoint Organic Garden The Mekong Riverview is at the dawn of its agricultural journey at the 20,000-sqm Viewpoint Organic Garden. Cultivation has begun, and the land is already producing organic vegetables and growing fruit for the hotel’s restaurants. The hotel stresses they need patience in nurturing the land, and it takes time for vegetables and fruit trees to grow and flourish. A small team from the Mekong Riverview, who contribute a diverse range of skills, operates the garden and shares their knowledge. The Viewpoint Organic Garden would consider selling its produce in the future, if its yield is sufficient after full development. Currently, the hotel offers its guests a visit to the organic garden, but it may open to outside customers in the future. Website Email: marketing@mekongriverview.com
