Seminar on Promotion of Cruise in Mekong River Japan, 10 September 2010
Development of Ports and Cruise in Mekong River, Lao PDR Prepared by: Somphone LOUANGLATH Acting Director of Inland Waterways Transport Division Department of Waterways, MPWT
Content Introduction Cruise tourism in Lao PDR Current Condition of Ports in Laos Policy of Port and Cruise Tourism Development Conclusion and Recommendation
INTRODUCTION • Name:
Lao People's Democratic Republic.
• Area:
236,800 sq km.
• Population: 6.5 million (2010). • Population density: 23 persons/km2 • Capital: Vientiane. • Bordering:
China, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.
• Rivers:
Mekong River, through Laos about 1,898 km
• River Port :
27 ports along the Mekong River
Introduction (Cont) The Lao PDR is among the world least developed countries and is also the sole land-lock country in the South East Asian Region and one of the thirty land-locked countries in the world. The policy of our country is to transform the country from landlocked to land-linked, particularly in the Greater Mekong Sub-region. The Mekong river is the sole international river connecting six country in Asia (China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia) and it is very important for navigation in Laos.
Location of Lao PDR
Current Situation of Cruise Tourism in Lao PDR The Lao government has signed a member of bilateral and multilateral agreement and has prepared to ratify international conventions related to cross border and transit transport to facilities the trade and tourism. 5 local ports in the north have been promoted to international port and tourism, reduction of visa fees. following the agreement on commercial Navigation on the upper Mekong River between the 4 countries (China, Lao, Myanmar and Thailand). As: Xiengkok, Ban Mom, Huay sai, Pak beng and Luangprabang The cruise and tourism only stretch for Houay Sai to Louang Prabang is still famous for passenger and tourists transport, at present we have plan to improve some locations for cruise tourism between LPB-PB-HS such as Luang Prabang.
There are 29 River ports along the Mekong River
Xieng Kok port
Ban Mom Ports
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Louang Prabang port
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Pak Bang port
Vientiane port
Current Situation of the Cruise Tourism in Lao PDR (con’t) Distance cruise from Luang Prabang port to Pak Beng port is about 160 km, 304 km to Houay Sai port and 363 km to Chiang Saen port (Gold-triangle) the tourism region in Thailand. Tourism route in upper Mekong, a cruise down stream started from Hoeui Sai and Luang Prabang stop for one night in Pakbeng, on the way to Luang Prabang visit Tam Ting Buddha’s cave. Another way the scenic link between Chiang Mai and Luang Prabang by plane. A cruise up from Luang Prabang via Pak Ou (Ou river mouth) stop for one night in Pakbeng, and continue to Hoeui Sai and proceed to Chieng Rai (Thailand) by ferry crossing. This market is also expanding due to the increasing number of cruises between Laos, Thailand and Yunnan as well as the development of new tourist attractions in the golden triangle.
About Luang Prabang Louang Prabang is world heritage town and located in northern part of Laos far from Vientiane about 400 km by road and take 35 minute by plane, it is good place for tourism. This province is well-known as Laos’s ancient capital and Buddhist center about 25 temples in the town, Every morning more than hundreds of monks from the various monasteries walk through the streets collecting alms. It is really one of Laos’s tourists attraction: beautiful landscape, pleasant climate, elegant amenities, natural waterfalls, temples and former king palace, its proper extending along the left bank side of Mekong river and enjoying an overlooking of water. Tam Ting Buddha cave was located Mekong River side about 26 km up stream from Luang Prabang, there is more than thousand Buddha's in the cave.
Current Situation of the Cruise Tourism in Vientiane capital, Lao PDR Situation of cruise and tourism are still limited from the section of Luang Prabang to Vientiane Capital and the southern part of Laos (Champasack Province). A cruise and tourism in Vientiane capital are only short distance from up to downstream of Vientiane capital aera about 50 km. The foreigner tourists come from Nong Khai province (Thailand) via friendship bridge Thanaleng took the bus or taxi to Vientiane town center about 25 km. After the excursion at beautiful historical places in Vientiane town and cruise along the Mekong river or go upstream to Xayaburi and Luang Prabang province.
Current Situation of Cruise and Tourism in Champasack province, Lao PDR The tourists come from Ubon province Thailand via Mekong bridge to Pakse district. A cruise down from Pakse for Champassak obout 50 km, take local long tail riverboat, zigzagging through mild rapids and sand banks. visit Vat phou temple. Departure from Pakse by road about 130 km to Nagaseng river port and take a local long tail riverboat cruise to Dondet a tourists region, visit the area of fresh dolphin in the Mekong. Visit one place for tourism in the southernmost of Lao (Cambodia border) visit beautiful natural Khone fall
Number of passenger in IWT, Lao PDR 2005-2010
Growth international tourists arrivals in 2005 is 268,000 persons forecasts for 2010 is 387,000-466,000 persons And in 2015 is 667,000-980,000 persons Annual growth figures are between 7% and 10%.
Statistic of fleet in 2009 Laos possesses a total of about 1,626 ships on the Mekong River, of which passenger ships account for 60% and cargo ships 40%. The passenger ship’s passenger capacity of 50-150 seats is 206 ships, the ship with capacity of 16-50 seats is 244 ships, the capacity less than 15 seats is 215 ships and speed boat are 374 boats. There are only few luxuries tourist boats, normally used passenger boat for cruise along the Mekong.
Current condition of port in Laos There are 27 ports along the Mekong River. Only a few ports are located along tributaries. Some river ports are still in their natural condition without concrete ramp often difficult to berth. Example is Xieng Kok port which is an open port and international check point for Vessels from four countries (China, Myanmar, Laos and Thailand ). Some ports are generally simple infrastructures and consist mainly of a reinforced concrete ramp only 10 to 12 %, it is parallel to the river bank, either sloping up or downstream for ferry landing and including building border check point facilities, immigration, custom port and offices.
Xieng kok port without ramp
Ban Mom port with ramp
Houay sai port with ramp
Luang Prabang port with ramp
Current condition of Port in Laos (Con’t) The majority of existing river ports in Laos are under the responsibility of the provincial department of Public Works and Transport (DPWT). Only one exception: the port which is operated by the private sector: Kao lieu port in Vientiane capital. The rehabilitation of ports is still limited and also passenger port, suffers from lack of human resources in engineering, lack of technical specification and budget. Many ports do not have facility equipment for Loading and Unloading cargo, which is usually done by manpower. Only in the Vientiane port (km4 port) such equipment facilities are available. (Funded by Japan)
Policies of ports and cruise development The Ministry of Public Work and transport (MPWT), especially Waterways Department responsible for IWT and Sea transport and have direct responsibility for the river work implementation. To build the rule and regulation for management of inland waterways transport (IWT) Rehabilitation the international ports with concrete ramp, easy to berth for the ships. install new pontoon for passenger port or tourists resource/spot such as LPB port, Tam Ting area, Pakbeng port and port in the south. Install facility communication equipment trough the reform of document checking system into international standard.
Policies on port and cruise development (Con’t) Conduct feasibility studies for new port construction on the tributaries to connect the transportation, cruise system with the Mekong River ports and sea port to promote the cruise and tourism. Construction of new ports as: the port of Xieng kok Pak Bang and Louang Prabang port to promote waterways transportation, trade and tourism, logistic and supply chain. Set up the navigation training and research center to develop the pilot and inland waterways transport for future. Improve the shipyard to build the ships into international standard. Improve the navigation channel in upper Mekong and connect to the south and link to neighboring countries.
Policies on port and cruise development (Con’t) Institutional Organizations (DOT, DOW, DOAMPWT and LNTA-PM Office) Decentralisation and Deregulation (reduction for the fees Visa at the port) Cooperation with MRC to improve the environment and water resource along the Mekong. Eco-tourism promotion for the sustainability. Connecting the tourism rout from north to south. Improvement to River Ports along the Mekong River. Personnel Development and Training.
Conclusion and recommendation An annual budget for port development and navigation channel improvement are limited. Lack of rules and regulations such as: ships registration, ships inspection and ships survey, ship classification and technical specification of ship building. Lack of communication instrument (between port and ship) Seasonal services Lack of Infrastructure and Facilities equipment Lack of Data collection system Capacity Building limited
Conclusion and recommendation To Install the pontoon into the tourism spot such as: port in Luang Prabang, Tham Ting Buddha cave and Pakbeng port. To improve the passenger port a long the Mekong River and facility equipment. To improve the navigation channel for cruise safety and navigation and aids to navigation installation. Human resources in cruise and engineering for port and navigation channel improvement. Now we are still in a great need for assistance and support from our neighboring countries and from international donors For more information of cruise and tourism in Mekong River, Lao PDR please go to: www.lao cruise.com
Luang prabang passenger port
Cruise at Pakbeng port
Pakbeng port area Hotel at Mekong River side in Pakbeng port
Cruise down from Pakbeng to LPB
The passenger at Houei Sai port
Passenger port in Luang Prabang
Cruise in Houei Sai port
Thank you For Your Kind Attention
