The Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a notice to all checkpoints bordering China to temporarily suspend the issuance of tourist visas to those entering the Lao PDR from China.
Public and Private Partnership Towards Southern Laos Tourism
The Marketing Taskforce (MTF) has taken ownership of the official digital media assets of Southern Laos — designed to promote tourism in the destination — with a handover event at Champasak Grand Hotel on January 28, 2020.
The event was attended by local and national government representatives from the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism (MICT) and Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), and members of the business community including Champasak’s Hotel and Restaurant Association (CHRA), the Champasak Travel Agent Association (CPATA), and Lao Airlines.
The highlight of the event is the transfer of the Southern Laos website www.southern-laos.com to the Southern Laos Marketing Taskforce (MTF), a public-private working group which coordinates tourism marketing efforts in Southern Laos. The MTF is chaired by the Champasak Provincial Department of Information, Culture, and Tourism (DICT) and Co-chaired by business associations CHRA and CPATA, and further comprises of a website management team of six private sector representatives and two DICT officers. The innovative public-private structure is governed by a mandate from the DICT. This lists the responsibilities of the MTF representatives to manage the Southern Laos’ official media assets.
The website management team has, since 2018, invested significant inputs to the content of Southern Laos’ online media channels. These include the website and the destination’s Facebook and Instagram social media accounts — which doubled their number of page-likes and followers last year. The website has been highly successful, raking in over 72,000 monthly page views and 20,000 visits on average in 2019 — an impressive number for a sub-national tourism destination and a notable increase from 57,000 monthly page views and 15,000 visits on average in 2018. Most of the website visitors come from the targeted, higher-spending western countries, such as USA and Europe, along with, Thailand, China, even Japan; due to the website’s automatic translation into 13 languages. It also boasts a Professional Area for local tourism businesses that provides free for download high resolution photographs of Southern Laos and other marketing materials necessary for promoting their business.
Since its establishment, the MTF, together with a Marketing Advisor from the Swiss Foundation for Technical Cooperation (Swisscontact), has been implementing promotional activities and campaigns to raise awareness about the region to the target visitor audiences, as well as coordinating with the local tourism Destination Management Network.
The website management team’s forward plan is to increase or maintain the current statistics of the media assets by continuously promoting domestically and internationally with relevant and up-to-date information to encourage more visitors to come to Southern Laos.
The MTF hopes that by collaborating to represent Southern Laos through high quality targeted marketing efforts rather than promoting their individual provinces, they can continue to be competitive as a tourism destination and make the most of growing travel and tourism market in Southeast Asia.
Laos Steps Up Efforts to Prevent Coronavirus Outbreak
Laos has announced that it will set up a task force committee to tackle the spread of the new coronavirus that originated in Wuhan, China.
The task force will assess the impact of an outbreak of such a virus in Laos, although no case has yet been confirmed in the country.
In particular, the task force will conduct inspections in at-risk locations such as ports of entry, transport stations, hospitals, and markets, while arranging specialized healthcare service points across the country.
It will also collect travel data and follow up the health status of travelers, especially tourists, students, business people and workers traveling from China.
In addition, the task force plans to study and draw up a plan to address the potential impact on Chinese workers engaging in projects in Laos.
It will also regulate the price of protective equipment, such as face masks, gloves, and protective clothing while arranging a budget for necessary expenditure.
Lastly, the task force will publicize ways to prevent the virus, check for symptoms and obtain treatment, via media outlets.
The country’s flagship airline, Lao Airlines, announced that it will temporarily cancel all flights from Vientiane to three destinations in China, namely Changzhou, Shanghai, and Hangzhou, as part of precautions in the wake of the virus outbreak.
As of January 29, no cases were confirmed in Laos, and there is also no report of a confirmed case among Lao nationals living in foreign countries including China.
Vientiane To Establish Permanent Organic Farmer’s Market
Vientiane Capital authorities are to establish a permanent location for an organic farmer’s market in Nonghai Village, Hadxaifong District.
The Vientiane organic agriculture group first began selling produce at temporary stalls twice a week at the That Luang esplanade in 2006. The market was then moved to Fa Ngum Park where goods were sold twice per week, with stalls eventually moving to Vientiane Center and ITECC exhibition center.
While the consumer response to organic markets has been extremely positive, the changing location has caused confusion among shoppers.
According to the Vientiane Times, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Dr Lien Thikeo told the media that a permanent market would reduce the problems faced by farmers who currently have to showcase their products at a number of different locations. This has made sales more difficult, as consumers were not always sure of where the organic market may be set up.
The new market will provide farmers with more space and a permanent location for consumers to visit.
Better management of organic farming will ensure higher standards, and a higher quality product, while the new market will allow the government to more closely monitor prices.
Vientiane Times reports that the capital city is home to 17 organic farmers’ groups that work over 175 hectares of land. Over 1,000 tonnes of organic produce is grown and sold per year.
Could Lao Baseball take Laos to the World Stage?
Laos saw its first baseball team formed in 2013 when just ten people began with practice sessions at a car park in the capital city of Vientiane. Now, the sport is rapidly developing, with Laos already recognized as the rising star of Asian baseball.
Despite its short history, Lao baseball has made remarkable progress. More than 100 Lao people now enjoy the previously non-existent sport.
The country dispatched a national team to the 2018 Asian Games, the first time that the country participated in an international match and has successfully hosted its first domestic league.
All sounds positive and promising, but what does this actually mean to Laos? What benefit could the growth of the baseball industry bring to the country?
Global baseball leagues
Baseball leagues are one of the most profitable sports leagues in the world.
In 2018, the Major Baseball League (MLB) in the United States ranked as the second most profitable sports leagues in the world at USD 10.7 billion.
Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball league ranked 12th with USD 1.2 billion of revenue, while South Korea’s Korea Professional Baseball came in the 25th place with USD 563 million.
In particular, MLB’s growth is remarkable. The league surpassed the USD 10 billion revenue mark in 2017 after seeing steep growth.
MLB’s industry revenues that account for expenses and other investments came in at USD 9.7 billion for 2019, up from USD 9.4 billion in the previous year. MLB player payrolls and benefits for the year came in at USD 4.7 billion.
Baseball is one of the official sports for the Olympics, and one of the most popular global competitions; World Baseball Classic (WBC) now welcomes participants from 15 countries across the world.
An example from the Dominican Republic
As figures above show, the U.S. is still the center of the baseball universe, but interestingly, about a quarter of MLB players are from outside the U.S., with 102 players hailing from the Dominican Republic.
This means that more than 10 percent of players in the world’s most profitable baseball league come from the small Caribbean country with a population of only 10.7 million.
It’s estimated that Dominicans earn more than USD 400 million annually in the MLB, while players in minor leagues earn another USD 200 million. A lot of this money makes its way back to the home country.
Baseball has also contributed significantly to the Dominican Republic’s domestic economy, with the baseball industry estimated to generate about USD 1 billion each year.
This figure includes revenues from training and recruitment facilities in the country that draw in thousands of aspiring baseball players. As players from the Dominican Republic perform well in big leagues, including MLB, the country has also become a training ground for neighboring nations, including Venezuela, Panama, Mexico and Cuba.
Considering that the country has a GDP of USD 76 billion, it’s clear that baseball has a big impact.
In addition, baseball players contribute to society in many ways. Most of these MLB players take the lead in community service by participating in baseball leagues in the Dominican Republic and spending their post-retirement lives there.
Some become celebrities and entrepreneurs and in some cases even government officials, and serve as social role models.
How can Laos benefit?
Laos could follow in the Dominican Republic’s footsteps, especially operating as an incubator for competitive players, and eventually a training ground for neighboring nations in Southeast Asia.
Baseball is already active in many Southeast Asian nations, including the Philippines, Thailand, and Indonesia.
While some are more advanced than others, Southeast Asia is not ready to compete on the global stage, as the region has yet to send a team to compete in the WBC.
Although Laos is a late starter, Lao baseball has great potential, and with support from countries like South Korea, it could eventually overtake its peers and become the leading nation in Southeast Asian baseball.
Lee Man-soo, a former South Korean baseball player and the coach for professional baseball team SK Wyverns, said during his latest press interview that the Lao national baseball team shows a skill level on par with the third grade of elite middle school players in South Korea, adding that the team is growing and improving at a fast pace.
This is high praise indeed, as middle and high school baseball players in South Korea are often a popular target for MLB scouts. The South Korean national team that consists of 18-year-olds and below took second place in the latest U-18 Baseball World Cup held in 2017.
With a government-backed baseball federation newly formed to support the industry in Laos, and the country’s first baseball stadium about to open, it may not be long before scouts from MLB or other advanced baseball leagues visit Laos in search of outstanding players.
Interview With Dr. Anoulak Kittikhoun
As the UN Young Professionals Programme embarks on its search for the best of the best talent among its Member States, The Laotian Times invites Dr. Anoulak Kittikhoun to discuss his journey in becoming the first Lao national to work at the UN Secretariat in New York City, and how this paved the way for his position as Chief Strategy and Partnership Officer at the Mekong River Commission (MRC).
“I may have been the first, but I certainly won’t be the last,” says Dr. Anoulak optimistically.
According to Dr. Anoulak, working for the UN at the famous matchbox headquarters in New York City was a dream come true. He recalls that the members of the cohort with whom he entered were not only the best and brightest but also idealists.
“My colleagues wanted to use their wits and intelligence to save the world from conflict and poverty. Everywhere we went as UN staff from NY, we were respected and taken seriously.”
The highlight of his time was leading the preparation for the UNSG’s official visit of the Pacific Islands countries and participation in the Pacific Islands Forum’s Leaders Meeting in 2010, where he remembers stressful hours, tight deadlines, and multiple parties and factors to consider. But in the end, he got to travel with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon as a member of his caravan.
Given the contributions made by Laos to the UN, there should normally be at least six or seven Lao nationals employed at the UN Headquarters in New York, says Dr. Anoulak. But somehow he is still the only Lao national to have worked at the UN Secretariat, between 2010 and 2014.
Dr. Anoulak suggests that those who hope to go abroad for work or be a part of international organizations need to be more proactive, and try their best to have a wider perspective along with a global viewpoint.
The first step to achieve this is to improve foreign language skills, especially English, said Dr. Anoulak, adding that while receiving a foreign education could be a great help, it is not as necessary these days.
More importantly, he stressed the need to develop good foundations in skills, including soft skills such as critical thinking, writing, and speaking precisely and clearly.
“This is because these are the foundations to acquire more knowledge, make friends and networks, and reflect on your successes and failures,” he said.
Recalling the year 1988 when he first left Laos for the United States, Dr. Anoulak said the environment and infrastructure for education in Laos have dramatically improved.
In particular, he cited easier access to online resources.
“YouTube did not exist when I was young,” Dr. Anoulak said with a grin on his face. “Resources are out there. The important thing is to have a more proactive attitude and be ready to utilize them.”
It is often pointed out that “brain drain” is an issue for developing countries like Laos when too many students wish to study or work overseas, but it appears that Dr. Anoulak has a different approach to the subject.
This is because one of the main motivations for him to work for the UN was his desire to contribute to his home country by being a part of an international organization as a Lao citizen. A similar motivation played an important role when he decided to join the MRC in 2012.
Dr. Anoulak has spent almost eight years with the MRC, and during his tenure, the MRC has become an essential agency in the region, to which the international community pays close attention.
“I feel like the MRC and I have evolved together,” he said cheerfully. Dr. Anoulak sees himself being able to grow professionally within the MRC, and his face lights up when sharing his outlook with the organization and how he wants to and can contribute.
It was not difficult to tell that he was fully ready as ever to pave the way for a new path yet again.
With a new book entitled River Basin Organizations in Water Diplomacy coming out in November this year, Dr. Anoulak is contributing to the theory and practice of international rivers management and the critical role of river basin organizations such as the MRC.
“Although I’m in quite a good position with lots of great responsibilities at the moment, I want to see myself taking up a more important role within the organization in a few years, which would naturally help me contribute more to Laos, the Mekong, and the world,” said Dr. Anoulak.
Watch an interview with Dr. Anoulak on Lao Youth Radio (in Lao language) where he discusses his journey to becoming the first Lao national to work at the UN Secretariat.
Laos Remains Free of New Wuhan Coronavirus
No cases of the new coronavirus have been confirmed in Laos, according to Lao Minister of Health, Professor Bounkong Sihavong who spoke at a press conference yesterday.
The minister responded to rumors spreading on social media regarding a patient under treatment in Vientiane as simply untrue.
“There has so far been no confirmation of any patients infected with the new coronavirus in Laos,” said Minister Bounkong. “Suspected cases have all proved negative.”
Although a sick Chinese national and her child arrived in Laos on January 20 from Wuhan, in Hubei Province, China, her illness tested negative for the new virus originating in Wuhan. The mother and child remain under observation.
Lao social media has been inundated with fake news in recent days after claims were made that a patent was undergoing treatment for the new Coronavirus at Vientiane’s “150 Bed” Mittaphab Hospital.
The government of Laos has tightened screening and quarantine measures at all its borders, with entry to Bokeo’s Golden Triangle region temporarily closing its borders to citizens of China and Myanmar.
Minister Bounkong did say that screening was difficult, as the equipment used to monitor the temperatures of foreign visitors upon arrival would not detect anyone in the early stages of the virus who would likely not show symptoms.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), indicators of coronavirus infection may include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, the infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure, or death.
The WHO recommends frequent handwashing, covering the mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing, and thoroughly cooking meat or poultry products.
The Lao government has set up a hotline, 166, for those wanting information about the virus, as the government attempts to stop the spread of fake news.
Thailand has confirmed eight cases over the virus, while Vietnam has detected two cases, and Cambodia has reported its first case overnight.
Vientiane Drafts Legal Framework to Crack Down on Noise Pollution
Vientiane Capital has drafted a decision on the suppression of noise pollution after continued complaints by residents in the nation’s capital.
