The tree canopy walk on a suspension bridge is a popular activity at Nam Pien Yorla Pa. - VT
VIENTIANE: Chay, now 32, was a wildlife poacher for many years, his life never seemed to improve.
The positive change in his life began in 2019 when he got a job as a driver at Nam Pien Yorla Pa, one of Laos’ most popular tourist attractions.
“I have a better life now as the income I earn through tourism is much more than what I got from hunting wild animals and cutting down trees,” Chay told a team of Vientiane Times staff who visited this forest-based venture recently.
“Nobody wants to be a poacher if they can earn enough money to feed their family through other means. I will never go back to being a poacher,” he said.
Chay is one of many thousands of people now benefitting from eco-tourism development across the country. Nam Pien Yorla Pa is located in a 5,000-plus-hectare protected area in Xienglae Thar village in Pakngum district, some 60km from downtown Vientiane. This is a role model project for the conservation of forest resources and biodiversity with people’s participation.
It’s probably true to say that protected areas will never be safe without the participation of local communities, even though millions of dollar are spent on protecting forests. But if villagers see they can benefit from protecting natural resources and can earn sufficient income from tourism, they will do a lot to protect forests and wildlife.
Situated within the Phou Khao Khuay mountain range, Nam Pien Yorla Pa is an offshoot of Nam Kat Yorla Pa and is the closest sizeable nature-based tourist attraction to Vientiane. Nam Pien refers to the name of the river that runs through it, while Yorla Pa means to visit a forest.
Nam Pien Yorla Pa was awarded the Asean Tourism Standard, which was presented in Indonesia this year, for sustainable tourism development with the participation of local people.
This nature-based tourist attraction has been designated to entertain visitors from Asean countries during Visit Laos Year 2024 as well as foreign delegates attending Asean meetings next year.
The developer of the site, Somphet Maopaseuth, said the Nam Pien Yorla Pa and Namkat Yorla Pa resorts employ about 400 local people, many of whom were formerly poachers and illegal loggers. Nam Pien Yorla Pa employs at least 100 villagers who provide various services to both Lao and foreign visitors. Some of them are chefs, tour guides, housekeepers, drivers and receptionists.
Chay has gone from being a destroyer of wildlife to someone who now helps to conserve forests and wildlife for future generations.
“Working as a driver transporting tourists challenges my abilities. I have to learn how to talk to tourists and provide the services they require. I also have to learn some basic English so I can communicate with foreign visitors,” he said.
When tourists arrive at Nam Pien Yorla Pa, they are advised about what they should and should not do. No one is allowed to remove anything from the surrounding forests and the rules are very strict. Violators can be fined, with the largest fine being 10 million kip.
Activities on offer at Nam Pien Yorla Pa include a tree canopy walk on a suspension bridge, swimming in waterfall pools, roller coaster zip-lining, bike zip-lining, and zip-lining above the sea of green, as well as trekking and camping, waterfall sightseeing, rides in all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), the spider web net above the river and more.
Nam PienYorla Pa opened not long before the pandemic hit Laos. To begin with, the place was hugely popular with Lao visitors, with daily average arrivals reaching 800-900.
It currently welcomes 80-100 visitors a day on average. On peak days, the number can reach 400-500, usually on weekends, according to the site’s assistant manager, Chanxay lathsavong.
“Some Westerners have stayed for days or weeks because of the great facilities here, which include accommodation, a restaurant and swimming pool and various activities,” Chanxay said.
A visitor from Vientiane, Noi, said “Nam PienYorla Pa is an amazing place. This is my first time here and I have greatly enjoy zip-lining and riding in an all-terrain vehicle to experience the natural environment.”
Foreign tourists visiting Nam PienYorla Pa mostly come from Thailand, China and Vietnam, while Westerners are starting to return as the Lao tourism industry rebounds following the Covid-19 pandemic.
Asked how he would use Visit Laos Year and Laos’ chairmanship of Asean next year to attract more visitors to the two sites, Somphet said he was working with state agencies to market his tourism products to foreign guests atten-ding the Asean Tourism Forum, other Asean meetings and related events next year.
The master plan for the development of Nam Pien Yorla Pa centres on accommodation, adventure activities, a botanical garden, and model ethnic villages.
“Accommodation is 25 per cent complete. We have introduced 11 adventure activities so far, accounting for 60 per cent of the plan,” he said.
“The botanical garden, which is 20 per cent complete, aims to protect plant and wildlife species. We plan to start building ethnic villages in the next few years as a way to preserve the cultural heritage of ethnic communities.”
When asked about the economic returns from Nam Pien Yorla Pa and Namkat Yorla Pa given the huge amount of investment capital that was ploughed into the two sites, Somphet said economic returns could be made in the long run because this kind of business is still new in Laos.
Somphet added that it was important to understand that Nam Pien Yorla Pa and Namkat Yorla Pa are designed to benefit of the country in terms of social and environmental protection, generating job opportunities for local people, and preserving the cultural heritage of ethnic communities.
“My decision to develop an eco-tourism destination withinin a protected forest was driven by my desire to protect forest species and limit unrestrained hunting in this area,” he said.
“This kind of tourism encourages responsible travel and helps to finance future conservation, and improves the well-being of local communities through sustainable employment and opportunities. I will try my best to promote sustainable development in Laos.” - Vientiane Times/ANN
