Luang Prabang tourism makes millions of US dollars

The status of world heritage town has transformed Luang Prabang into a jewel of regional tourism, which also turned local residents to more fixed jobs ranging from tourism-related services to trade. And a large number of local residents have also ended their slash-and-burn cultivation practices, thanks to the status.

The shifting has improved their living conditions and reduced the poverty rate among population.Luang Prabang Governor added that the number of tourists had increased consistently as a result of the provincial administration’s prioritisation of tourism and special support with good local participation.

Over the past five years, we could obviously notice that the areas under slash-and-burn cultivation had decreased from 23,500 ha to 17,800 ha, he said.Per capita income of Luang Prabang residents has increased from US$350 in 2005 to US$821 in 2010. The number of poor families has fallen to 8,000 from 18,000 families.

Tourism makes the mainstream of the provincial socio-economic development.Luang Prabang has become a popular top ten town of tourism among foreign tourists.Over the past five years, the prestige of Luang Prabang province as well as the Lao PDR has risen in the international arena.

To further develop Luang Prabang a tourist town in terms of culture, nature and history till 2015, the province will further improve tourist sites and infrastructure. Other facilities in Luang Prabang province including roads, airport, communication, public utilities, hotels, resorts and restaurants must be maintained and developed.

Guesthouses and hotels of different budgets are available for tourists, ranging from as low as 50,000 kip (around US$7) to US$1,500 per room.Now, there are 41 hotels and resorts, 255 guesthouses capable of accommodating 4,000 guests per day, and 187 restaurants.

Source = laovoices