Luang Prabang Dominates ASEAN Tourism Awards with 21 New Accolades
– Luang Prabang, Laos, has further solidified its reputation as a leading destination for sustainable tourism, securing 21 awards at the ASEAN Tourism Forum held in Cebu City, the Philippines. This latest achievement brings the province’s total number of ASEAN tourism awards to 93.
The awards, presented between and , recognize destinations and tourism operators across Southeast Asia that meet regional standards for sustainability, cleanliness, and service quality. The honors included awards for the Luang Prabang National Museum, as well as numerous accolades for hotels and event venues.
The Luang Prabang National Museum received both the ASEAN Clean Tourist award and the ASEAN Sustainable Tourism Award, specifically in the urban tourism category. The museum scored highly for its promotion of environmentally friendly tourism within a heritage setting, achieving an average score of 92.72 percent across five key indicators. Authorities noted areas for improvement, including encouraging greater participation in environmental and cultural conservation, providing dedicated tour guides, offering souvenirs, and enhancing waste and wastewater management.
Luang Prabang also secured its third ASEAN Clean Tourist City award since , achieving an average score of 87.96 percent based on seven evaluation indicators. However, officials emphasized the need for continued efforts in environmental management, cleanliness, and waste management to maintain and strengthen the city’s standing as a clean tourist destination.
The private sector played a significant role in the province’s success, earning 19 awards. Fifteen of these were ASEAN Green Hotel awards, recognizing hotels committed to sustainable practices. Three awards were given to event venues for conference and meeting facilities, and one additional award was presented to another event venue. This strong showing reflects increasing cooperation between public authorities and tourism businesses in advancing sustainable tourism development.
The Luang Prabang Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism has been actively working to improve the Luang Prabang National Museum and its facilities in recent years. These improvements include upgrades to ticket offices, walkways, and restrooms, as well as the provision of basic first aid equipment, wheelchairs, and fire extinguishers. The Department plans to continue these efforts, aiming to achieve a five-star national standard and further enhance the museum’s appeal to visitors through additional facilities and on-site activities.
The awards underscore Luang Prabang’s long-term commitment to quality and environmentally responsible tourism, positioning it as a regional leader in the sector. The results, according to authorities, reflect steady improvements in environmental practices and closer coordination between tourism businesses and local officials.
