Interview with Edouard Georges, Chairman of Phoenix Voyages

How is Laos developing as a destination?

Édouard Georges - The number of visitors to Luang Prabang has been rising steadily for several years now. There are more hotels and better air services. Recently renovated, the airport can now accommodate twin-engine A320 aircraft. This allows us to offer luxury incentive packages, among other things.

What kind of activities do you offer these groups?

E. G. - We offer several activities based on Buddhism, including meditation workshops, temple visits and meetings with monks. Helping to develop the villages is one of our main aims: building schools and social activities. For example, we worked with customers to build fish ponds for a religious institution. The Mekong is also an important part of our holidays. Although the river is unpredictable, with extremely changeable water levels, fishing, dining on the water or by the shore are very popular, as are elephant rides with interaction with the animals.

The hoteliers we met all reported poor occupancy in the low season. What can be done to improve the situation?

E. G. - Everyone thinks that during the rainy season, showers last all day. This is completely false: on average, a thunderstorm lasts just over an hour. We're working hard to change this perception, but habits die hard. You should also be aware that the period considered to be the best, from November to February, can be cold and foggy.

Wouldn't a more even distribution of visitors be the best way to prevent Luang Prabang from being spoilt?

E. G. - Of course. Luang Prabang will soon reach saturation point. A more even annual spread is an ideal solution, at no extra cost and above all without disappointing visitors. In the wet season, the photos are more beautiful, the vegetation greener and the waters of the Mekong wilder.

What are the destination's development plans?

E. G. - There are a number of projects under study, focusing in particular on more sustainable tourism, including forest lodges and preserving the balance between urban development and ethnic villages.