Champasak authorities assumed full management and preservation of the Vat Phou UNESCO World Heritage site on 1 September.
This transition follows the expiration of private company Ying Sokxay’s 15-year tourism development concession, which concluded on 22 June.
Provincial authorities denied the company’s request for an extension, citing the 2021 National Heritage Law, which prohibits commercial concessions on national cultural heritage sites without direct ministerial approval.
Vat Phou is at the centre of Champasak’s wider cultural landscape. The site dates back more than 1,000 years and stretches from the mountain to the river, linking temples, shrines and ancient waterworks. It reflects how Hindu beliefs shaped the way people understood their relationship with nature.
Inscribed by UNESCO in 2001, Vat Phou is one of Laos’ four World Heritage sites, along with the town of Luang Prabang, the Plain of Jars in Xieng Khouang, and Hin Nam No National Park in Khammouane.
To ensure a seamless transition, Champasak authorities authorized the Provincial Department of Information, Culture, and Tourism to oversee operations. A committee took charge on-site, streamlining ticket sales, golf cart services, and central parking to maintain public order.
The ancient temple complex remains fully open to tourists and pilgrims.
Vat Phou remains one of Champasak’s top tourist draws, with the province recording nearly 750,000 visitors in 2025 alone.
Meanwhile, the provincial government has launched short- and long-term development plans to improve site sanitation, environmental upkeep, and visitor services.
Backed by national heritage regulations, provincial authorities have stepped in to oversee daily operations, ticket services, and site preservation while implementing new improvements for visitors.
