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ECOCLUB, Issue 92
Laos:
The Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre has opened its
doors in Luang Prabang, Lao PDR. A private museum, the Centre
features exhibits of ethnic artefacts, a museum shop, and the Patio Café.
The Official Opening was held on 5 July, attended by Kongchanh
Khammavong, Chairman of the Lao National Front for Construction,
Luang Prabang Province, William Booth, Managing Director of Jim
Thompson Thai Silk Company, and over 100 business people,
government officials, and tour companies. The Centre exhibits ethnic
clothing, household objects, religious artefacts, and handicrafts, with
information in English and Lao languages. The Museum Shop sells
books, photos and exclusive handicrafts directly from ethnic
communities. The Patio Cafe, run by L’Elephant Restaurant, serves
food and drinks with a view of That Chomsi. Guided tours and seminars
are available on request. Thongkhoun Soutthivilay, Co-Director of
TAEC explains, “Our objective is to help locals and visitors learn about the different ethnic groups of northern Laos. We also
want to provide a new and interesting learning experience.” Funds from entry fees, donations, and services go to the running of
the Centre and developing activities that promote cultural diversity and preservation. The Centre is the brainchild of
ECOCLUB Member Tara Gujadhur and Thongkhoun Soutthivilay, the founders and co-directors. Tara Gujadhur is an
American who worked as an advisor to the Luang Prabang Tourism Office for 3 years before starting this project. Thongkhoun
Soutthivilay has been working at the Luang Prabang National Museum for over 6 years, and is currently the Collection
Manager. Together they began work on TAEC over one year ago, finding and renovating a heritage building, researching and
working with ethnic communities, and building a collection. They hope that the Centre will be a resource for anyone wanting to
Philippines: Controversial health spa project in active volcano crater, Controversy surrounds a proposed health spa project
by Korean company Jung Ang Interventure Corporation in the Philippines. The resort would be built along the crater of Taal, an
active volcano on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. Apparently the developers had the backing of the regional government,
however a Department of Tourism (DOT) spokesperson denied that the Korean project was ever endorsed as the Volcano area is
considered a permanent danger zone. The regional office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ will now
review the environment compliance certificate (ECC) already obtained by the developers.
Europe
Belarus:
In June, Professor Todd Comen of the Institute For Integrated
travelled to Belarus under the sponsorship of the U.S. Embassy Guest
Speakers Program to speak on the topic of integrated rural tourism. In
Belarus, enthusiasm for rural and ecotourism has gripped eager
entrepreneurs. Led by Valeria Klitsunova, executive director of the Belarus
Rural and Eco Tourism Association, one eager group in the north has made
strides in developing an integrated rural tourism product that is based on the
European Greenways model. In Minsk, the Professor made a presentation at
the U.S. Embassy for tourism providers and news journalists interested in
rural and eco tourism. Following the program in Minsk, Professor Comen
traveled to the Rossony region to attend a lively community festival and
present a day-long workshop to guest house owners and others interested in
learning to develop a rural tourism product. The workshop content focused on product development, guest service, and guest
house design. Three chapters of Professor Comen’s book on integrated rural tourism were translated into Russian (funded by the
Eurasia Fund) and provided to the participants. Belarus is a welcome change for travellers seeking authenticity.
France: Les Cygnes is delighted to announce their contribution to sustaining the environment, as the first ever Gite Complex in
France to allow visitors to reduce their carbon footprint by planting trees within the property. Les Cygnes is a luxurious complex
of 3 self-catering Gites in the Poitou-Charentes region of France, with more than 5 acres of land. A portion of this land is to be
used for the planting of indigenous trees to help negate the carbon emissions involved in travel to and from Les Cygnes. Visitors
will be encouraged to purchase trees, which can be planted on-site, or asked to contribute to charities involved in Carbon
Footprint offsetting. Les Cygnes is fully committed to helping protect the environment. Graeme Swan, the proprietor explained
"We want guests to enjoy themselves whilst helping to secure the planet's future."
Greece:
NGOs protest over new national tourism land-zoning plan.
Five of Greece's biggest environmental NGOs staged a
joint press conference to declare their opposition to the Environment Ministry's new Tourism 'land-zoning' plan. The NGOs
called the new law both 'anti-touristic' & anti-environmental on the grounds that it gives the green light to holiday-home
developments (aimed at northern Europeans) around the country, even within protected areas and even in uninhabited islands
with important prehistoric sites such as Keros island. The NGOs were also angry at the government's zeal on developing golf
