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Benelux Visits Luang Prabang
Luang Prabang tourism stakeholders, the Luang Prabang Travel Agents Association (LUTA), along with Singapore Airlines and Silk Air, hosted a special FAM trip for 12 top Benelux (Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg), travel agents and media from 26-30 April, to give them greater insight into the UNESCO city’s tourism potential. The trip placed decision makers, representing TUI, Kras, Footprints, Asia Tours, as well as editors from “Asian Way of Life” and “Travel Media”, in four diverse hotels – Luang Prabang View, Mekong Riverview, Sanakeo Boutique, and the Satri House – for their 5-day exploration. LUTA tapped Asia Ban Hao Travel on Day 1 to take the group on a city tour. They visited the National Museum, several temples including Vat Xieng Tong, and handicraft shops to better understand local ethnic crafts such as textiles and bamboo products. The day ended with a meal and traditional ethnic group fashion show at the Parasol Blanc hotel. The Day 2 itinerary featured Kuang Si Waterfall, with plenty of stops on the way. Treasure Travel Laos first took the group to the Elephant Camp to walk with the elephants, and then paused at the Free the Bears Sanctuary. The falls came next, with a short hike and dip in the natural pools, before heading off to the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre (TAEC). The day ended at the Mekong Riverview for dinner and to inspect the property. Day 3 headed to the hills with White Elephant Adventures for a 90-minute trek to a Hmong village, where the group ate a traditional lunch on bamboo dishes, explored the village to experience their way of life, and see a coffee plantation. The chic Apsara hotel on the Nam Khan River hosted dinner, before the group descended on 525 Cocktails and Tapas for top-shelf mixed drinks and homemade creations to add an Asian touch. The group remained active on Sunday, when Day 4 sent them to Nahm Dong Park to fly on zip lines, learn about making sa paper, investigate caves, inspect a fruit farm, explore the hilly terrain to panoramic views, and enjoy a lunch with locally grown organic vegetables. The afternoon landed them on a Bounmi Cruises boat for a leisurely ride with spectacular views to Pak Ou Caves and its endless number of ancient Buddha images. Whiskey Village was the next port of call, before the sunset cruise, with cocktails, back to town. In the early morning of Day 5, the group gathered next to a school near temples to observe and pay respect to a procession of hundreds of monks, while they received their daily alms from faithful local Buddhists. Before departing, the participating Benelux travel agents expressed great interest in offering tours to Luang Prabang, and the itineraries opened their eyes to more of what the UNESCO city has to offer. Enterprises taking part in the FAM trip thanked the agents for coming, and Singapore Airlines and Silk Air for supporting tourism in Luang Prabang.
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Macau Legend plans min US$300-mln further Laos input
Hong Kong-listed casino services firm Macau Legend Development Ltd has confirmed to GGRAsia it is aiming to invest US$300 million to US$500 million across “several projects” in the Southeast Asian country of Laos. The firm already runs a casino venue there called Savan Resorts (pictured), a property formerly known as Savan Vegas and located in Savannakhet, near Laos’ border with Thailand, a country where casinos are illegal. “This range [of US$300 million to US$500 million] is a target for our potential investment in Laos over several projects and over a number of years,” a company spokesman told us by email in response to our enquiries. “Our initial focus is to expand the current integrated resort in Savannakhet, Savan Resorts, as well as the local airport in Savannakhet. We are in active discussions with the [Laos] government,” the person added. The firm’s co-chairman and chief executive, David Chow Kam Fai, noted to Macau Chinese-language media on Saturday that his firm was interested in developing one particular “large-scale integrated tourism and entertainment resort” project in Laos, and that it was applying to the Laos government for permission. The company spokesperson subsequently told GGRAsia that the potential resort site referred to by Mr Chow was next to Savan Resorts. Mention of such a possible scheme was made in company filings and press releases in 2016. The land parcel was said to be part of Savannakhet’s Savan Seno Special Economic Zone. In an August 1, 2016 filing, Macau Legend mentioned the new resort might have two golf courses, 600 hotel rooms, villas, spa and pool facilities, a shopping arcade, an exhibition hall, medical tourism facilities, a floating restaurant, a botanical garden and “a dinosaur exhibition”. The firm did not confirm us in its latest commentary if the proposed new resort would have a casino, or how the project would be financed. Macau Legend announced in early September 2016 that it had “formally taken over” the management and operation of the casino scheme Savan Vegas Hotel and Entertainment Complex in Laos. The company paid US$42 million for the right to operate the property. The deal also includes the right to a 50-year monopoly on casino operations in three Laos provinces including the one where the resort is located. The three provinces mentioned in the 2016 deal were Bolikhamsay, Khammouane and Savannakhet. “Macau Legend Development has a 50-year monopoly with an option to extend another 49 years for its zone of exclusivity [in the three provinces] in Laos,” noted the company spokesperson in their emailed reply to us. “We are also working with the government of Laos to explore additional areas outside of the current zone of exclusivity to develop one or two more additional integrated resort projects in the country,” the person added, without giving further details. Source: www.ggrasia.com
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The Accidental Lao Adventure King: Inthy Deuansawan
“Me getting into tourism is a coincidence. I didn’t know it existed,” said Inthy Deuansawan, founder of Green Discovery Laos. “My dad wanted me to study tourism. I worked in sales and wanted to be an architect.” When tourists began trickling into Laos in the 1990s, Inthy started fulfilling his design wish. In 1998, he transformed the family’s Vientiane noodle shop into the renowned Khop Chai Deu restaurant. “I figured a restaurant was the cheapest investment from a sales point of view, so I moved to architecture and the restaurant.” Inthy then began talking with his foreign diners. “I wondered why they came to Laos. They said Lao attractions, friendly people, and untouched nature.” In 2004, he opened Green Discovery as an adventure travel operator. “I like adventure. Most agents offered classic tours. I wanted to provide something different.” He started taking tourists to Vang Vieng, and instantly discovered his off-the-beaten-track itineraries required decent accommodation with restaurants, and few were available. “I wanted to design one myself. My place. My style.” This launched Inthira Hotels, and Inthy had opened three by 2016. Plans call for the chain expand to five properties by 2018. Inthy has also opened the Xayoh Grill House and Suntara Restaurant in Vientiane. Green Discovery now reaches into the far corners of Laos. The company has added treetop zip-lining, “via ferrate” (iron way) climbing, and deep cave explorations to its menu of activities. Today, Inthy’s name is synonymous with Lao adventure tourism. And when he’s not busy with business, Inthy competes in triathlons and marathons. This article is based on a 2016 interview www.greendiscoverylaos.com
