Episode 3: Case Study - Sustainable Tourism in Luang Prabang, Laos

10/08/20 • 41 min

There are many fascinating corners of Southeast Asia to explore, from the temples of Angkor Wat in Cambodia to the islands of Vietnam’s Con Dao archipelago and the spectacular topography of Thailand’s Ang Thong National Marine Park. Unfortunately, many are increasingly (or were, before COVID-19) overrun with travelers, with no discernible strategy for sustainable tourism in place. One wonderful exception is the ancient royal capital and former French colonial outpost of Luang Prabang, at the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers in the north of Laos.

Despite receiving plenty of luxury jet-setters and budget-strapped backpackers, Luang Prabang retains its many-layered charm. That’s thanks in part to some extraordinary tourism-based businesses that incorporate community development, cultural education, and environmental initiatives into the way they conduct their affairs.

On this episode, we talk to Jo Smith about Ock Pop Tok, the textile workshop and visitor center she and her Lao partner, Veomanee Douangdala, established there over a decade ago, and why it’s important to preserve traditional crafts from the area. Next up is a discussion with Susie Martin, the Australian expat who co-founded the Laos Buffalo Dairy, which not only produces delicious cheeses and ice creams for restaurants in town, but does so with a sustainable business model that helps local farmers breed and care for their animals. Finally, co-founder Michael Vogler tells us why they embrace a no-riding approach on the treks they offer at MandaLao Elephant Conservation.

Visit our Instagram feed @conscioustravelerpod for images from Eric’s visits to these wonderful outfits. And follow @ockpoptok to check out some drool-worthy handmade textiles, @laosbuffalodairy to see the cute little calves and their moms, and @mandalao_elephants for pictures of the elephants out on their daily rounds.

Previous Episode

Episode 2 - An Epidemiologist on COVID-era Travel

As much as we’d love to pretend it’s going to disappear and we’ll be back to jetting around the world just the same as before, COVID-19 is not going anywhere fast.

But the novel coronavirus isn’t the only thing that raises health flags when it comes to travel. In this episode, we talk to University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill epidemiologist Nabarun Dasgupta (a college friend of Eric’s) about how to travel safely and with awareness—of not only your own health but the issues concerning your destination.

We discuss strategies for anytime, but especially during a global pandemic. Nab happens to also be a world traveler with a talent for taking stunning photos from airplane windows, so follow him on Instagram @nabarund.

Next Episode

Episode 4 - Women in Tourism, Safari Edition

It took a dozen safaris in a handful of African countries for Kathryn to meet her very first female guide, at Basecamp Explorer in Kenya’s Mara Naboisho Conservancy. She made a lasting impression. In this first installment of a series on women’s roles in tourism, we tackle the emergence of females in the African safari business and look at the records of a few leading safari companies. Kathryn speaks with the aforementioned Agnes Nashipae (Nash for short), an inspiring Maasai young woman who avoided the tradition of early marriage in order to continue her education and turn her passion for wildlife into a career. And then we hear from the pioneering female founder and CEO Deborah Calmeyer of ROAR Africa, a mostly female-staffed high-end safari company. She shares her perspective on the rise of African women and what she’s doing to promote of woman-led experiences change the narrative.

Follow @basecampexplorer and @roarafrica for daydream-worthy safari photos and @conscioustravelerpod for a peek at Kathryn’s experience with Nash.