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Luang Prabang Cleans Up Its Act
28 April 2017 Luang Prabang Cleans Up Its Act By Bernie Rosenbloom Tourists expect to walk into a sepia-toned 19th-century postcard when visiting Luang Prabang. Sitting on the Mekong banks and sipping cocktails as a breeze flutters tree leaves. Ancient golden-topped temples peeking above French colonial buildings. Empty plastic bottles, discarded cardboard boxes, chunks of Styrofoam and plastic bags scattered along the rivers and roads. Luang Prabang must keep a constant vigil over trash. An ongoing storm of litter rains down on a community that takes great pride in their UNESCO World Heritage city. An occasional showing of troops to pick up rubbish isn’t sustainable. Luang Prabang knows they need a dedicated effort to keep the city clean and green…and they have one…the “Luang Prabang Clean Up.” “The cleaning of Luang Prabang began as a private initiative in 2014, with a few businesses volunteering to take on the responsibility,” explained Chansamai “Mai” Rattanasuvannaphon, the Green School Project Manager at the Urban Development and Administration Authority (UDAA). On 28 March 2015, the Lao Education Opportunity Trust (LEOT), under the UDAA, launched the first official monthly Luang Prabang Clean Up. Hotels and restaurants such as the Belmond La Résidence Phou Vao, Maison Souvannaphoum, and Blue Lagoon were among the 2014 private-sector brigade, who signed up. Somsack Sengta, owner of the Blue Lagoon restaurant, emerged as a Team Leader for the Luang Prabang Clean Up, and has built solid support from local enterprises. “In the beginning, the clean-up was voluntary with a couple of business involved, and though our participation is growing, it remains voluntary.” Mr Sengta noted that 15-20 organizations, including travel-related businesses, government offices, and schools now join in the clean ups, generally held on the last Saturday of each month. “I have found that many young people are really motivated in being a part of the Luang Prabang Clean Up. They are a great example for the young generation.” The Luang Prabang Clean Up Crew assembled again at 07:00 on 31 March 2017, with 84 pairs of hands ready to clean the side of the road from Hotel De Lyon to the Nam Khan River Bridge on way to the airport. Among the group were staff and management from hotels, travel agents, LEOT, the Red Cross, and UDAA, which brought their dump truck. The task took two hours. Trails of Indochina, a frequent participant, supports similar initiatives at the destinations on their itineraries. “It is our responsibility to show our commitment to responsible tourism to our guests,” said Michael Roehrig, Trails of Indochina General Manager in Laos. He views Luang Prabang as more than a UNESCO site. “Luang Prabang is an awarded city…it has been voted ‘Best City’ by readers of the UK’s Wanderlust travel magazine seven times between 2006 and 2015.” Mr Roehrig stressed that in spite of all the awards, “What is most important now is that the town is applying for the ASEAN Clean Tourist City Standard (ACTCS) in early 2018.” He noted Luang Prabang has always been the highlight for tourists coming to Laos, “and the fact that it is awarded, clean, and well taken care of will certainly push the number of tourist arrivals higher.” Amantaka General Manager Donald Wong emphasised the UNESCO-listed city, with its well-preserved architecture and cultural heritage, needs to “safeguard its ongoing appeal to tourists, (so) it’s important to keep the town clean, enabling visitors to enjoy the culture, heritage and ambiance at its best… The Luang Prabang Clean Up is important because it helps us showcase the city to visitors in its best possible light.” This was Mr Wong’s first Luang Prabang Clean Up since he took the helm at the Amantaka last October, though he’s participated in similar initiatives at other destinations. “Now, I am here, I intend to continue to show ongoing support and solidarity amongst other hoteliers in Luang Prabang to protect our town.” Likewise, Luang Prabang View General Manager John Morris Williams signed the hotel on when he took charge more than three years ago. Ten of his staff pitched in on the 31 March clean up. “We’ve participated every month since I have been here, and we do our own clean up every week,” he said. “It’s our obligation…our social responsibility…as a member of the community that puts heads in our beds.” Mr Williams also pointed out, “Tourism is our bread and butter and people coming to a clean city and surroundings gives them a feel of being taken care of. Tourists like a clean destination, and if they feel it’s well looked after, they like to come back and spread the word.” Hold That Upload! New Year Could Get Messy The Luang Prabang Clean Up Crew had barely dried off from showering after the March rubbish haul, when Ms Rattanasuvannaphon sent out an urgent email. The annual parade for Lao New Years, Pi Mai, was just two weeks away. She needed 100 trash bins and a legion of cleaners to ensure a spotless parade route before and after the procession. Luang Prabang’s hotels filled the basket order within a day, and some 200 staff from 15 properties enlisted in the clean-up corp, as did more than 50 students from Phanluang Secondary School. The Pi Mai Parade went off without a stain, and the crew is eyeing Phou Vao Road for the 29 April Clean Up. The Luang Prabang Clean Up Crew’s next big test comes in June, when the city hosts its first major business event, The Mekong Tourism Forum. Delegates might expect to walk into a sepia-toned 19th-century colonial postcard, and they may have a riverside cocktail. But with Luang Prabang constantly cleaning up its act, forum participants will miss out on the empty water bottles, Styrofoam chunks, and plastic bags scattered along the rivers and roads.
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25 May MTF Insights Sai
MTF Insights: Phonexay (Sai) Keuthbounmay @ Belmond La Residence Phou Vao Sai is the operations manager at the Belmond La Residence Phou Vao hotel in Luang Prabang. He has never attended an MTF, but has followed the forum in the news. He learned of the Luang Prabang MTF from the local hospitality network. What challenges does Luang Prabang face in hosting a multi-venue event? There is not enough capacity and facilities to handle a large event yet…The other challenge is that Luang Prabang is not connected enough to big cities apart from Bangkok, Singapore, and Hanoi. A limited number of flights is also a problem. MTF replies: LPQ has actually quite good air access – direct flights from Vientiane, Bangkok, KL, Hanoi, and Singapore. And easy to connect via these airports. Last year we were in Sihanoukville, which has lot less air access compared to Luang Prabang. We never have the Mekong Tourism Forum in capital cities, and try to avoid key gateway cities, as we want to promote secondary cities. We also have MTF in the low season to help stimulate tourism. Luang Prabang is a great destination for MTF 2017. Not only do we have suitable air access and great tourism products. The destination also has an active tourism industry that collaborates in welcoming delegates and staging a great MTF. What opportunities do you see for Luang Prabang in hosting the multi-venue MTF? The concept of having several events around the town is not a bad idea, because it will show real local lifestyle to the visitors. Having several host venues around the town will show participants that Luang Prabang has its own unique character, and is not ashamed of showing off the beauty of the town, the people and the offerings to visitors. The MTF is also a great opportunity to promote the destination worldwide through (the MTCO’s) social media channels…and for businesses to promote their products. Further, the event will keep the town busy, because normally June is really slow season. The event also educates local people to aware of what a special place they live in, and why people come to visit. So, they should be proud. We Are Lao asked several Luang Prabang businesses and organizations about the opportunities & challenges they face in hosting the multi-venue MTF, with MTCO Executive Director Jens Thraenhart, responding.
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23 May MTF Insights Jacques
MTF Insights: Jacques Mury @ Villa Santi and Santi Resort & Spa Jacques is the general manager of the Villa Santi and Santi Resort & Spa, which is the host of the MTF Food Fair. This is Jacques’ first MTF, and he first found out about the Luang Prabang event late last year. What challenges does Luang Prabang face in hosting a multi-venue event? Little information has transpired about this event. My understanding is that the main meeting will be at the Central Bank and some hotels will share some other functions. I believe that the PR for this event is pretty weak. MTF replies: Anybody that is subscribed to our weekly Mekong Tourism e-newsletter, reads the regional trade press, follows @TourismMekong on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other social media, and checks out www.MekongTourism.org and http://www.mekongtourismforum.org/index.php/category/news-article/news/ will be in the know of what is happening. We also had two half-day Open Forums in Luang Prabang organised by MTCO, MICT, and Luang Prabang Tourism Department that informed the local tourism industry about MTF and was looking for ideas, feedback, and collaboration. These workshops were well attended by the local tourism industry. We also visited and spoke to many operators in person in Luang Prabang and in Vientiane, as well as sent emails to inform. We received great response and interest. Finally, we announced MTF 2017 at various industry conferences and events in Laos and the region. Otherwise, we are always happy to answer any questions. But anybody that lives under a rock and waits to be enlightened by magic might not know what will be happening as it relates to Mekong Tourism Forum. What opportunities do you see for Luang Prabang in hosting the multi-venue MTF? I see an extraordinary opportunity for Luang Prabang to gain international exposure, even if it mainly concerns (stakeholders) in the Mekong area. Hopefully it will also offer solutions to the “management” of the Mekong River in order for each country to get its share of it. What is your business, and Luang Prabang tourism, doing to meet any challenges you face? My business is hotels, and together with the other stakeholders, we are striving to maintain the city’s World Heritage classification both architecturally and landscaping-wise. Above all, we need to find a waste management system that will eventually fit the picture. This last point is one of the most important (at the moment), as waste management in Luang Prabang is almost non-existent.
