This little article on Luang Prabang will be of interest to anyone who keeps an eye on Laos, and its position in the international scene. For a very different take on conditions in the country, a summary based on the proceedings of a recent Lao activist conference in the United States may spark some wider reflection.
“Now, Western tourists are the kings and queens”
November 18th, 2008 by Nicholas Farrelly · 3 Comments
Tags: Laos · Trans-Border Issues
3 responses so far ↓
1 burin buranasin // Nov 19, 2008 at 4:58 pm
Be careful! They may also be corrupting elements.
2 Glenn // Nov 19, 2008 at 11:32 pm
I don’t think the views of these articles are mutually exclusive.
I was in Laos last week. Luang Prabang is spectacular and the weather this time of year is simply outstanding. Although I personally didn’t run across any of these tourists with bad attitudes the article mentions.
And for sure there is plenty of corruption and other abuse taking place there. Just as there is in every other country in this neighborhood.
3 Paul // Nov 20, 2008 at 11:51 am
Like Glenn, I was also in Luang Prabang last week. The last time I was there was in 2002.
I can agree with Creager that cell phones, the net and ATMs have arrived. However, pizza and other tourist niceities such as English books, fine dining and swanky hotels were certainly around in 2002. The only difference now is that they are there in much greater numbers. Luang Prabang is most definitely a comfortable place to visit – no convenience is too far away and prices are very low (for the average foreigner, at least).
Downtown Luang Prabang in 2008 seemed to me to be a hive of construction with dozens of buildings being renovated and refitted, keeping in line with local architectural styles, of course. The whole of the downtown area now seems to be set up to cater to the whims of tourists – guesthouses, tourist agents, massage parlours and even cocktail bars!
Needless to say, there appeared to be very little in languid Luang Prabang to suggest to the average tourist that there were any human rights or democratic reform issues in the country.
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