How Laos aims to boost tourism numbers

Laos is seeking a bigger slice of the Asian tourism pie currently dominated by Thailand and Vietnam. 

The small nation aims to turn its rich cultural heritage into a stronger driver of visitation and economic growth with the launch this month of a new national cultural organisation.

The Lao People’s Revolutionary Party’s Central Committee has approved the creation of the Lao Cultural Values Promotion Association (LCVPA), a body that will promote the country’s cultural identity while "supporting creative industries, heritage conservation, and tourism development".

Association president Savanhkhone Razmountry said the organisation will help transform Lao culture into both a “creative economy” and a “cultural economy,” creating new opportunities for artists, performers, writers, cultural entrepreneurs, and local businesses.

He noted that cultural attractions already draw between four and five million visitors annually, highlighting the growing role of heritage tourism in the country’s visitor economy, news hub Travel Mole reports.

But Laos also has an image as a party destination - a market that was damaged by recent drink-spiking deaths. 

The association plans to work closely with UNESCO and other international partners on heritage conservation projects while seeking technical expertise and funding to preserve cultural assets and expand creative initiatives. It will help develop new cultural products while supporting the country’s broader economic goals.

The launch is part of a wider government strategy to raise Laos’ international cultural profile and strengthen its appeal as a tourism destination.

Earlier this year, Laos nominated its national dish, larb, for UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage recognition. Authorities are also preparing a nomination for the traditional Su Khuan (Baci) blessing ceremony.

The announcement came as Laos enjoyed another year of strong tourism growth.

The country welcomed nearly 2.6 million international visitors during the first half of 2026, a 9.9% increase compared with the same period last year, figures released by the Tourism Development Department under the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism showed.

Thailand remained Laos’ largest inbound market with 833,738 visitors, representing 32.2% of total arrivals. China accounted for 26.1%, followed by Vietnam with 22.6%.

Together, the three neighboring countries generated more than 2 million arrivals, representing around 81% of all international visitors during the first six months of the year.

If current trends continue, Laos is on course to achieve its 2026 target of welcoming between 5 million and 6 million international visitors.

International visitors are expected to contribute more than US$8 billion to the Laos economy, with average stays projected at around 10 days.


# Vientiane has new urban sanctuary located right in the Laos capital’s historic centre overlooking Chao Anouvong Park and the Mekong River. The reports on Avani+ Lanexang Vientiane Hotel sound impressive.

Image: Vientiane Night Marker, Tourism Laos

UNESCO recognition for Italian cuisine

The food of Italy has been granted a cultural heritage listing by UNESCO.

Although dishes like pizza were already listed, UNESCO has now recognised the wider traditions of Italian cooking and the way they are practised and passed down.

The United Nations agency specialising in education, sciences, and culture described Italian cuisine as a “means of connecting with family and the community, whether at home, in schools, or through festivals, ceremonies and social gatherings”.

“For us Italians, cuisine is not just food or a collection of recipes. It is so much more: it is culture, tradition, work, wealth,” said Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who had championed the bid. 

The decision also saw Egypt’s koshary (a combination of macaroni, rice and beans flavoured with tomatoes, onions and garlic) added to the list, alongside other food-related traditions already recognised globally, including washoku (culinary balance) in Japan, Malaysia’s breakfast culture and the French gastronomic meal.

So everyone gets a prize, basically.

Leading chef Michelangelo Mammoliti told La Repubblica newspaper that the news gave him “a great sense of pride”, both as an Italian and as a chef.

Mammoliti heads La Rei Natura in Piedmont, the only new three-star restaurant in the 2026 Michelin Guide for Italy. He added: “Italy is one of the nations where regional cuisine has a very big impact on culture and traditions.”

Italy’s food and wine sector hopes the recognition will further strengthen tourism, which already brings 80 million international visitors to the country each year.

Other new additions to the list included Iceland’s natural swimming pool culture, the practice of Cuban Son music and dance, and Albania’s art of playing, singing and making the lahuta, a musical instrument.

Image: Ivan Naunov, Scop.io 

The one time of the year to avoid Thailand

 

Thailand is one of my favourite travel destinations but there is one time I would never visit again: during the Songkran festival, which is currently underway.

If you want to be relentless targeted by young people wielding high powered water pistol, or buckets full of cold water, then be my guest. Many young folk love it. 
 
If you are not in that demographic choose any other time to visit.

Officially, Songkran, or Thai New Year, is framed as public water fights acting as a cleansing ritual. But it has, in some cases, become a Thai excuse for hooning. You can expect to end up soaking wet several times a day if you are silly enough to emerge from your hotel.

 The event has somehow been recognised by UNESCOs as an Intangible Cultural Heritage event.  

The Tourism Authority of Thailand thinks it has a tourism booster on its hands, teaming with the BBC to help promote the festival to a global audience.

The collab ad will run until June 15 and highlights the social and cultural impact of Songkran via an animated character going through various Thai experiences.

Songkran is officially on April 13 every year, but the largely good natured water fights extend over several days across the country. 

Our Thailand correspondent reported there were 162 people killed and 1,279 injured in road accidents over Songkran. 

Venice to impose tourism charge on visitors

And so it begins.

Venice is set to charge €5 ($8.30) for day trippers entering the city in its latest move to combat the ever-increasing problem of overtourism.

Initially to be introduced as a trail period during peak days, day visitors over the age of 14 will have to pay the tourist fee by booking in advance from next season.

“Venice is among the most visited European cities and suffers the most from excess tourism,” said Simone Venturini, the city council member for tourism.

The city measures just a few square miles but attracts around 13 million visitors annually.

The aim is to get visitors to come on off-peak days, Venturini said. Good luck with that. 

UNESCO has suggested putting the Italian city of Venice on the list of World Heritage sites at risk. 

Venice has been struggling with the negative impacts of mass tourism for years, Travel Mole reports.

City officials have already taken measures to keep large cruise ships away from the city's canals.

Ferocious plum brandy is recognised by UNESCO

It is definitely an acquired taste, but Serbia’s national drink sljivovica now has UNESCO world heritage status.

The fierce spirit is made from fermented plums and used to toast births, marriages and mourn deaths. Many Serbian families distill their own versions.

The plum spirit is known as rakija in other parts of the Balkans and as slivovitz in Poland.

The best are delicious, but some can be positively dangerous.

Sljivovica is usuaully enjoyed as a shot, but is sometimes served warm in winter.

In Serbian culture it is considered a cure for a range of physical ailments.

Local media reported that the brandy is placed around the neck to remedy a sore throat, while high fevers are tackled by massaging sljivovica into the patient’s feet.

Ferocious Commercial varieties come with an alcohol content of 40% but home-made versions are opften much higher, hence the need for caution from neophytes.

The UN announced that Serbian plum brandy is now recognised "as a cherished tradition to be preserved by humanity".

Its place on the Intangible Heritage list relates to the “social practices and knowledge related to the preparation and use of the traditional plum spirit”, the UNESCO listing says.

The organisation recognised “the complex knowledge and skills to prepare the drink in a home environment as well as its use in everyday and ritual practices”.

Global recognition for Launceston food and wine

Launceston and Northern Tasmania have been successful in their bid to be recognised as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy. 

Tasmania's second city and surrounding vineyard and farming regions are among 49 cities joining the global network. 

Launched in 2004, the UNESCO Creative Cities Network aims to strengthen co-operation among cities and help guide economic, social, cultural, and environmentally sustainable development.

Chair of the Creative Cities Steering Group, Andrew Pitt, said: "It is wonderful to have endorsement of our vision. 

"For some time, we have been lacking a cohesive, accessible and intuitive identity for our city. Now we have one." 

Launceston is surrounded by wine regions including the Tamar Valley and Pipers River and is home to the renowned Harvest Farmer's Market (top).

Launceston Mayor Albert van Zetten said the project would cement Launceston s identity as an internationally recognised region for food and beverage production. 

"The UNESCO brand is recognised worldwide and is a marker of the very highest quality," Mayor van Zetten said.

"Over many years, Northern Tasmanian has consistently demonstrated expertise in the development of agriculture, food processing, wine and beverage production, tourism and agritourism. Now that we have been recognised and listed as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, it will contribute positively to our regional economy and create new jobs in food-related industries and activities over the coming years. 

"In addition, it formalises Launceston's identity as one of the world s great regional food cities." 

The bid to be recognised as a City of Gastronomy was developed by the Creative Cities Steering Group, whose members represent industry, community, local government, educational and regional organisations. 

The bid was enabled by funding from the University of Tasmania and the Great Regional City Challenge and supported plenty by organisations such as FermenTasmania.

The City of Launceston will contribute $25,000 towards the implementation of Creative Cities-related projects. Six other Northern councils have also collectively committed more than $28,000, including Break O Day, Dorset, George Town, Meander Valley, Northern Midlands and West Tamar.

The projects and activities will be delivered through Launceston Gastronomy and a newly formed not-for-profit entity, Tasmanian Agrifood Network Ltd.

See www.launcestongastronomy.com.au