Director of the Luang Prabang provincial Information, Culture and Tourism Department, Dr Soudaphone Khomthavong. - VT
VIENTIANE: Luang Prabang city, the capital of Luang Prabang province, has won an award in a category titled 2024 Green Destinations Top 100 Stories, in recognition of its efforts to ensure responsible tourism and maintain its distinctive appeal.
Laos is one of 32 countries on the Green Destinations 2024 Top 100 Stories list, which was unveiled at an online event held on Oct 15.
The certificate presentation ceremony will take place in Chile from Dec 10-12.
Director of the Luang Prabang provincial Information, Culture and Tourism Department, Dr Soudaphone Khomthavong, said the town of Luang Prabang is the first and only destination in Laos to be selected as one of the 2024 Top 100 Destination Sustainability Stories under the theme “Preservation of architectural housing styles in a world heritage area”.
The 2024 Top 100 Destination Sustainability Stories award is a global tourism standard award given to tourist destinations that have passed inspection and been certified by the Green Destination organisation, which is the leading entity in certifying sustainability at tourist destinations around the world and whose recommendations are accepted by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council.
This award reflects efforts to raise the quality of tourism in Luang Prabang province to a higher international standard and the province will submit more applications in hopes of receiving another award next year, Dr Soudaphone said.
Last year, Luang Prabang province was recommended by the American magazine “Time” as one of the 50 greatest places to visit in 2023.
The magazine called Luang Prabang “a hidden paradise”, saying the turquoise waterfalls, Buddhist temples, and sunset boat trips on the Mekong River are just a few of the province’s highlights.
Luang Prabang is one of the most well-known provinces in Laos and is a top tourist draw because of its riverside location, old temples, quaint streets and alleyways, colourful festivals, and scenic beauty.
The town’s old quarter was listed as a World Heritage Site in 1995 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco), which determined that its architecture was culturally significant and worthy of preservation by the United Nations.
Other popular attractions in and around the provincial capital include Phu Si stupa, Sae waterfall, Kuangxi waterfall, and the large night market in the town centre. - Vientiane Times/ANN
