Princess Aiko of Japan will visit Laos in November, marking her first official overseas engagement. The visit commemorates the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Laos, which were established in 1955.
During her trip, Princess Aiko is expected to...
Thailand is falling behind in the race for sustainable tourism, industry leaders warned at the Thailand Tourism Forum 2025, held on 7 May in Bangkok.
Alisara Sivayathorn, CEO of Sivatel Bangkok Hotel, pointed to a troubling statistic: fewer than 1 percent of hotels in Thailand currently meet international sustainability standards.
The forum, “Will Travellers Pay for a Better World? Rethinking Value in Responsible Tourism,” spotlighted the growing demand for eco-conscious travel and the need for the Thai tourism sector to catch up.
Speakers emphasized that responsible tourism is no longer a niche trend but a global expectation, especially as regulators, particularly in Europe, begin to tighten requirements.
Sustainable tourism spans four main pillars:...
Authorities in Luang Namtha Province are reviewing plans to restore the Tad Nam Dee Waterfall, a popular natural tourist site, following significant damage caused...
The Lao government has announced plans to boost tourism in Vientiane Capital with the theme "Vientiane's Sustainable Tourism," The initiative aims to incorporate innovative...
Phu Quoc International Airport in Kien Giang Province will undergo major expansion and upgrades to support the 2027 APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) Economic Leaders' Week and boost local socio-economic and tourism development.
APEC is a regional forum established in 1989 to promote economic integration, sustainable growth, and trade liberalization among its 21 member economies.
Meanwhile, the Economic Leaders’ Week is APEC’s most prominent annual gathering, where heads of state, ministers, business leaders, and policymakers convene to discuss regional and global economic...
Lodkeo Inthakoumman, a leading long-distance runner from Laos, captured two gold medals at the 85th Singapore Open Track & Field Championships, held from 24–25 April 2025.
The 30-year-old dominated the women’s long-distance events, clocking...
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has officially upgraded the Lao Football Federation to Silver Level Membership in 2025.
Currently, with this upgrade from the 2019 Bronze, the Lao Football Federation becomes the 11th Silver...
Across the provinces of northern and central Laos, Lao Tobacco Limited (LTL) is working on developing rural livelihoods through its LEAF Department, a division focused not only on producing quality tobacco but by supporting farmers, their families, and their communities.
LTL, under the Imperial Tobacco Group, has built a dominant presence in Laos’ tobacco industry.
Since 2001, through a joint venture with the Lao government under the Investment License Agreement (ILA), the company has expanded its operations. By managing its entire supply chain, from tobacco leaf procurement to cigarette sales, LTL has been able to increase production capacity and maintain low prices for its popular A Deng brand.
The LEAF Department sits at the core of this model.
“We are involved from the moment a farmer plants a seed until the cigarette is manufactured,” said Lynch Carlos, LEAF Manager at LTL.
The department manages every step: providing farmers with agricultural inputs, technical guidance, and purchasing their harvest under pre-agreed contracts, the Ecuadorian manager explained.
Today, more than 1,400 farmers work under contract with LTL in provinces such as Oudomxay, Phongsaly, Bolikhamxay, and Khammouane. This marks a sharp rise from 900 contracts last year.
Carlos explained that...