Some Guiding Principles of Lao Ecotourism

 

responsible travelers should try to choose products that engage and support community based activities. As statistics show most of the people visiting Laos would say they are a responsible traveler. In reality this seems to be different. Actually many people are not willing to pay a higher price for a community-based tour program.

As you are a visitor of the country you should take responsibility.

 

YOU MAKE THE DIFFERENCE!

 

• Decrease environmental & cultural impacts. Increase awareness of the importance of the ethnic groups and biological diversity.
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• Promote responsible business practices, which cooperate closely with local authorities and people to support poverty alleviation and deliver conservation benefits.
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• Provide a source of income to conserve, sustain and manage the Lao protected area network and cultural heritage sites.
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• Emphasize the need for tourism zoning and management plans for sites that will be developed as ecotourism-destinations.
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• Use environmental and social base-line data, as well as long term monitoring programs, to assess and minimize negative impacts.
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• Maximize the benefits for the Lao national economy especially local businesses and people living in and around the protected areas.
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• Ensure that tourism does not exceed the social and economic limits as determined by researchers working in conjunction with local residents.
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• Promote local styles of architecture that are developed in harmony with Lao culture and environment, that use local materials, minimize energy consumption and conserve local plants and wildlife.
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