Luang Prabang’s UNESCO Status Hangs in the Balance

via Nikkei Asia, 14 January 2024: Luang Prabang faces the threat of losing its status amid rising concerns of overdevelopment and cultural erosion. The construction of a hydroelectric dam and the negative impact of over-tourism are contributing to the potential delisting, paralleling cases like Dresden and Liverpool. With its rich history as Laos’s former royal capital and its unique riverside charm, Luang Prabang’s future hinges on the upcoming World Heritage Committee meeting, balancing modern development with preserving its cultural legacy.

Some locals, therefore, see the restrictions mandated by the UNESCO agreement as a bulwark against further encroachment by the regional power. “I worry that because of the railway, more Chinese will come here and buy property and land,” said a local business owner. “They have a lot of money. In Vientiane they build big buildings. But we don’t want that here.”

The World Heritage Committee in July may prove critical in deciding Luang Prabang’s future, with the possibility the town may be placed on its “endangered” list.

Yang said: “Without the World Heritage status, ill-conceived projects of shopping malls and casinos aimed for certain categories of tourists that we have so far succeeded in stopping over the past 20 years, will now cave into various vested interests. So I can only imagine what the future of the town will be.”

Source: Laos tourist jewel at risk of losing UNESCO status – Nikkei Asia