Lao Embassy in China · Thongsavanh Phyathep | The Trend of the Impact of the Pandemic on Natural Heritage Sites 

EDITOR'S NOTE: On May 29 2021, the main activity of the third International Mountain Tourism Day—the World Heritage Famous Mountain (Jinfo Mountain) Summit kicked off in Nanchuan District, Chongqing Municipality, China successfully. Themed with “World Heritage Protection and Green Development of Mountain Tourism”, the Summit got strong support from the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), the Global Tourism Economy Forum (GTEF), the Internationale Organisation Für Volkskunst (IOV) and the China Association of National Parks and Scenic Sites. The theme forum presented wonderful contents with high-level opinions, frontier observations and dialogues on trends. The speeches will be released in succession to share with industry colleagues.

Thongsavanh Phyathep, Minister Counselor of the Lao Embassy in China delivered a speech at the summit:

Today, I am very glad to be the speaker in International Mountain Tourism Day 2021 World Heritage Mountain(Jinfo Mountain) Summit and it is a good opportunity to share on "The Trend of the Impact of the Pandemic on Heritage Sites" in Lao PDR.

Before I am going to detail, I would like present you briefly about Laos. Laos is a landlocked country of northeast-central mainland of Southeast Asia, traversed by the Mekong River. Laos is bounded to the north by China, to the northeast and east by Vietnam, to the south by Cambodia, to the west by Thailand, and to the northwest by Myanmar. The total population is 7.3 million (2020) with the total area of 236.800 Square Kilometers.

The government of Lao PDR emphasis the tourism sector development contributing to the social economic development plan. Currently, the authorities concerned are implementing the National Tourism Development Plan 2021-2025, which is focusing in the Tourism Development, Tourism Promotion, Human Resource Development in Tourism Sector, Sustainable and Green Development and so on.

In term of world heritage site, there are three UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Laos. All are cultural sites, whose properties inscribed on the World Heritage List: LuangPhrabang City in Luangphrabang Province (1995), Vat Phou and Associated Ancient Settlements within the Champasak Cultural Landscape in Champasak Province (2001) and Plain of Jar in Xiengkhuang Province (2019).

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, tourism was rapidly growing in Lao PDR. According to the data by Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism of the Lao PDR, the international tourists in the Lao PDR reached 4.7 million persons in 2019 (the specific number is 4.791.065) which increased 14% compare with 2018, it could gain 917 million USD that contributed to 4.6% of GDP and employed 54,000 workers, about 63% of whom were women. The main factor is this increasing number is the campaign on Laos-China Visiting Year in 2019.

As you may aware, the covid-19 pandemic outbreaks have affected many countries around the world including Lao PDR in particular tourism sector, which is one of the main income of national revenue. The international tourists have dropped by 60% in the first quarter of 2020 compared with the same period in 2019. The simultaneous drop in tourism revenue, remittances, and commodity prices could reduce the Lao PDR’s GDP growth to minus 0.5% in 2020.

According to the ADB Survey on tourism sector mainly on accommodation and food enterprise in four major tourist destination namely Luangphrabang Province, Vangvieng District of Viengchan Province, Vientiane Capital and Champhasak Province. The survey result that about half of these enterprises were temporarily close in May 2020. About 70% of the surveyed enterprises had reduced employees, with employee numbers falling by 38%.

In the conclusion, the sudden stop in tourism arrivals and receipts caused by the onset of COVID-19 is expected to have a devastating impact on tourism enterprises in the Lao PDR. The Lao government tries to find special policies to help and support enterprises to continue their business. Meanwhile, the government realizes the special preference to rebuild the tourist confidence to visiting Laos after the covid-19. The Lao PDR generously endowed with natural, cultural, and historic attractions. The rapid increase in international visitors and underlying factors that supported tourism growth before the COVID-19 pandemic indicated that the tourism sector could play an important role in the socioeconomic development of the country and narrowing the development gap among countries in this region. However, in the short to medium term, the tourism sector needs assistance to survive the current crisis and prepare for recovery once the pandemic subsides.