Current Situation and Impact of Tourism Development in Luang Prabang, Laos

Abstract

This paper investigates the current state and development of tourism in Luan Prang, and analyzes the socioeconomic impact of tourism development in Luang Prabang town. The proposed research is analytical and descriptive in nature and mainly based on the secondary data approach. The result of the study found that with regard to its provincial tourism resources still has virtually untouched natural beauty and biological diversity, historical sites and since Luang Prabang was appointed to be a World heritage by UNESCO in 1995, the number of visitors increased dramatically year by year. However, tourism development has been surely effected to both positive and negative to socioeconomic of Luang Prabang. The economic impacts of tourism are understood and managed and that the benefits of tourism accrue to the local population. It is also important to ensure that tourism does not in fact constitute an overall negative economic impact on the community. Social change is a dynamic process with numerous internal and external factors contributing to this change. In Luang Prabang it is difficult, but important, to isolate the impacts of tourism in a rapidly changing society. Therefore, Luang Prang provincial as well as Laos government should pay more attention for preserving Luang Prang as a World heritage site.