Luang Prabang celebrates World heritage

LUANG PRABANG  Luang Prabang outlines plans to celebrate its 20th anniversary of its World Heritage Site listing by UNESCO this December.
Vientiane Times reported an official celebration will take place in Luang Prabang 7 to 9 December to mark the anniversary.
Activities will include seminars on the protection, conservation and development of the town as a World Heritage Site, as well as meetings and a public parade, photo exhibition, and drawing contest for young people.
These events will focus on Luang Prabang and its role as the country’s top tourist destination while supporting handicraft sales, as well as cultural performances and sports.
The highlights of the event will be an elephant parade led by a white elephant.
inside no 5According to Luang Prabang provincial governor, Khampheng Xaysompheng, the event will showcase the achievements of Luang Prabang in protecting, preserving as well as developing the town to ensure its value is maintained since it was listed as a World Heritage Site in 1995.
The province’s economy is growing at an average of 8.2% per year, and average income per person per year is USD1,450.
The town authorities see the worth of tourism in terms of revenue and job creation, but they need to recognise that a very high level of stewardship is required to ensure the next generation can enjoy Luang Prabang’s heritage.
Luang Prabang is located on a peninsula formed by the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers. Mountain ranges, namely the Phou Thao and Phou Nang ranges that encircle the city.
Known as Meuang Xua, then Xieng Thong, from the 14th to 16th centuries the town was the capital of the powerful Kingdom of Lane Xang (Kingdom of a Million Elephants). It probably dates back more than 1,200 years.
But Luang Prabang captured the imagination of travellers because of the fusion of traditional and French colonial architecture during the 19th and 20th centuries and its chill-out ambience that still survives despite a tourism boom. It is one of the few remaining towns in Asia that reflect a blending of two distinct cultural traditions.

sourced:ttrweekly.com