Paxa Nyordsavanh, Deputy-Head of World Heritage Site Management Division, Department of Heritage, Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, Lao PDR.
The close cooperation between our two countries and Parties has brought mutual benefits to the people of Laos and China, particularly through the Belt and Road Initiative, which supports the Laos-China Railway Project. This project connects Laos with Xishuangbanna and Kunming and has also enabled direct flights from many cities in China. These connections have greatly contributed to both macro- and micro-level economic and social development and have brought our people closer than ever before.
As the saying goes, 'Bei X Nueng X' (Siblings) or, in Lao pronunciation, 'Pee Nong,' we can imagine that there is no border between us, only mountains and rivers, which symbolize how deeply connected we are.
Laos is a country rich in cultural and natural treasures. It is known for its vibrant festivals, historical monuments, and captivating landscapes, which offer an authentic and immersive experience for all who visit.
One example of exceptional cultural value in Laos: The old town of Luang Prabang, located in northern Laos at the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers, is renowned for its well-preserved architecture and stunning historical buildings. Recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1995, Luang Prabang reflects a harmonious blend of Lao traditional architecture and 19th and 20th-century European influence.
Given these cultural assets, Laos has long recognized the potential of tourism as a key driver of economic growth for over two decades. However, I would like to share some of the challenges that we face in balancing tourism development with cultural preservation in the World Heritage town of Luang Prabang.
Luang Prabang was inscribed as a World Heritage Site under the following criteria:
Criterion (ii): It reflects an exceptional fusion of Lao traditional architecture and 19th and 20th-century European building style.
Criterion (iv): It is an outstanding example of an architectural ensemble with religious buildings, vernacular structures, and colonial architecture.
Criterion (v): The unique townscape illustrates the blend of two main distinct cultural traditions.
These criteria emphasize the architecture of the houses, public buildings, and religious buildings that form the heart of the heritage site and are considered “non-living” heritage. However, I would like to draw attention to the supporting attributes of this heritage: the functions of the buildings, the daily life of the people, who reside within them, and the intangible cultural practices they carry forward.
Tourism development brings both positive economic growth and challenges to this living heritage. For example, I may share some challenges:
The function of heritage buildings has changed, with many houses transformed into guesthouses, hotels, shops, or restaurants.
The daily life of local people has shifted, with some traditional practices adapted for economic purposes rather than for cultural significance.
The town’s landscape has also changed, with new constructions such as hotels and shops that reducing green spaces and affecting riverside cultural activities.
Despite the existence of laws, management plans, specific regulations, and a dedicated World Heritage Office, these measures are often outpaced by rapid socio-economic development. To address these issues, we have recently amended the Law on National Heritage with a new article on Impact Assessment for National Cultural, Historical, and Natural Heritage. This article defines the impact assessment process as “the process of investigating, studying, researching, analyzing, and predicting potential positive and negative impacts on National Cultural, Historical, and Natural Heritage arising from development projects or operations in the short and long term, to develop suitable approaches and measures to protect, avoid, or mitigate potential impacts on such heritage. All development projects or socio-economic activities—namely industrial, agricultural, and infrastructure development—that can directly or indirectly impact National Cultural, Historical, and Natural Heritage must undergo impact assessment, develop reports and plans for management, monitoring, and inspection.”
However, this article still needs to be interpreted into a separate regulation. To meet this requirement, and given our limited human resources and financial support, we are currently seeking international cooperation to help us address this urgent need.
I believe that the lessons learned from World Heritage Cultural Site management in China and each ASEAN member state could serve as valuable models for Laos. Additionally, I hope that the cooperation and collaboration on these challenges between ASEAN and China will generate significant mutual benefits for all relevant stakeholders.
(If you have specific expertise, or would like to share your thoughts, please send us your writings at CAobservation@outlook.com)
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