Laos’ waterfalls garner Asean Sustainable Tourism Awards

The popular Tad Yeuang waterfall in Pakxong district, Champassak province, has earned Laos an Asean Sustainable Tourism Award (ASTA), which was presented at the Asean Tourism Forum held in Cambodia from January 16-22.
The ASTA award aims to inspire tourism authorities in Asean countries to develop tourism products, address environmental and economic problems caused by the rapid growth of tourism, and improve their tourism products and service to meet Asean standards.
Each of the 10 Asean member states is given two awards under the Asean Sustainable Tourism Award scheme.

The theme for the 3rd ASTA this year was “Safe Tourism”, which focused on measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19 while also developing and providing safe services.
An urban tourism product award was given for the Tad Yeuang waterfall, while Tad Kuang Xi waterfall in Luang Prabang province received an award in the rural tourism product category, according to the Pathetlao Daily newspaper.
The Asean Sustainable Tourism Awards is a prestigious event that supports the Asean Tourism Strategic Plan for 2016-2025. Under the scheme, awards are presented to each Asean country every two years.
Two sustainable tourism packages from each Asean member state, amounting to 20 in total, are chosen to receive the awards.
Of the two winners from each country, one will be “rural”, and the other will be “urban”, reaffirming that city operators can be as sustainable as rural ones.
Asean tourism operators showcase their best tourism products to be featured in the Asean award scheme.
These tourism packages represent the importance of sustainable tourism practices in combatting seasonality and rebalancing tourist flows into Asean countries, according to the Southeast Asia website.
Tad Yeuang waterfall is popular with visitors because of the stunning scenery that surrounds it, while the everyday life of local residents can also be observed.
Champassak officials have improved visitor facilities and services at the waterfall in anticipation of more visitors during Lao Thiao Laos (Lao Visit Laos) tourism campaign.
All staff working at the site have been fully vaccinated against Covid and measures are in place to prevent the spread of the virus among both staff and visitors.
Provincial authorities have encouraged people living near the waterfall to grow organic vegetables for sale to visitors and are promoting aspects of local culture in the hope of generating more income for local residents.
Other visitor attractions in Champassak province have also been improved and renovated and standards at hotels and guesthouses have been checked to ensure that everything is ready for the return of visitors this year.
Particular attention has been paid to Covid control measures to ensure that everyone is safe, according to the provincial Information, Culture and Tourism department.
Champassak is well endowed with places of interest, both nature-based and historical, and no one should miss a visit to this scenic region during their stay in Laos, the department says.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update January 24, 2021)