Feasibility study on sustainable tourism in Laos

This project forms the Tourism element of the Eco-Valley project backed by the decentralised cooperation agreement between the Centre Region and Luang Prabang province. It may be entitled to financial support from the Asian Development Bank and the French Development Agency from 2008 onwards.

Anne Gaëlle Verdier, who is coordinating the study, and Vincent Rotgé, who is in charge of economic analysis for the tourism sector in the province, travelled to Luang Prabang in April and May to carry out the study. The project put forward to the funding organisations by the Institute will focus on making tourism a means of promoting the traditional activities practised along the river and of providing additional revenue for local communities.

The study's interim report will be submitted to the funding organisations on 15 July, and an initial validation session is scheduled to take place in Luang Prabang during the last week of July.