Transcript Ecotourism Laos
EcotourismLaos.com
Premier Partner Program
Prepared by Bernie Rosenbloom Content Editor, EcotourismLaos.com
EcotourismLaos.com
Premier Partner Program
• • • • •
Background Premier Partner Program/Benefits Examples of Premier Partner Listings Site Changes Membership Fees
EcotourismLaos.com
www.ecotourismlaos.com
is an official site of the Lao National Tourism Administration (LNTA) and was created with the support from the ADB-financed GMS Sustainable Tourism Development Project (STDP).
The purpose of www.ecotourismlaos.com is to provide travelers with information on nature and culture-based tourism activities, handicrafts, eco-accommodation, National provinces, world heritage sites, etc. in Lao PDR.
Protected Areas, The site’s aim is to help generate income for local communities, support natural and cultural protected areas, and minimize negative impacts on Lao's culture and environment.
EcotourismLaos.com
• Between
6,000-8,000
people visit EcotourismLaos.com each month.
•
First-time visitors
account for over
70%
of the total. •
More than half
of the visitors view the
Activities
pages.
• Each visitor views between
6-9 pages
per visit.
• EcotourismLaos.com won Planeta.com’s
Ecotourism Spotlight Award
in 2007, 2008, and 2009 and will enter in 2010.
• EcotourismLaos.com can
direct visitors to your website
.
EcotourismLaos.com
Ecotourism Laos has been upgrading its website to attract more visitors, provide better information, expand the content and become more interactive. Over the past year, Ecotourism Laos has: • Revised and continually updated the entire site, focusing on
Activities
• Expanded
What’s New
and now uploads/emails it monthly • Launched a
Virtual Tour of Laos
at the
Photo Gallery
• Opened an online
Hotel Booking Engine
• Created a dedicated
Contact
, [email protected], to quickly answer enquiries More upgrades are planned for 2010-2011.
The Premier Partner Program
Members of Ecotourism Laos’ Premier Partner Program benefit by receiving an extensive listing on one of the
Premier Partner Pages
: Tour Operators, Eco-Accommodation and Handicrafts.
• A Premier Partner Page Listing:
Promotes
you on Laos’ award-winning, No.1 ecotourism website • • •
Includes
: A 100-word description of your business A banner and photographs linked to your website A list of your products/services Contact information with links to your website and email address
Connects Increases
EcotourismLaos.com visitors to you visitor traffic to your website/email
Ecotourism Laos Sends Visitors to You
• On the website menu,
“Premier Partners”
replaces “Travel Services” with a three-category sub-menu:
Tour Operators
Eco-Accommodation
Handicrafts
• EcotourismLaos.com links visitors to
Premier Partner Pages
from throughout the site: More than 50 Provincial Tourism Office Trekking itineraries Activities Section: Caves, Waterfalls, Camping, Handicrafts, Wildlife, Rivers, Ethnic Villages, Climbing, Cycling, Birding Provincial Highlights, World Heritage Sites, Travel Facts, Transportation, Protected Areas, Ne w Products, What’s New • The EcotourismLaos.com Home Page prominently displays a banner linking to the
Premier Partner main page
…
Ecotourism Laos Premier Partners
Ecotourism Laos
Premier Partners
play a vital role in maintaining and upgrading this website. Without their support, the site would have little income to continue as Laos’ top source for ecotourism information .
If you are looking for a responsible tour operator, eco-accommodation, or authentic handicrafts in the destinations you plan to visit, please visit Ecotourism Laos'
Premier Partners
.
Premier Partners: Tour Operators Premier Partners: Eco-Accommodation Premier Partners: Handicrafts
Premier Partner Pages
These links,
Premier Partners: Tour Operators Premier Partners: Eco-Accommodation Premier Partners: Lao Handicrafts
are strategically placed throughout EcotourismLaos.com and lead to the three Premier Partner Pages. Premier Partner Pages are divided by provinces, and businesses can be listed in more than one province.
The following shows the Premier Partner Pages with sample listings:
Premier Partners: Tour Operators
Looking for a trek to an ethnic village for an overnight stay? How about biking on mountain trails, camping in a National Protected Area or rafting down a remote river?
Ecotourism Laos'
Premier Partners
offer a range of responsible nature- and culture-based tour packages throughout the country: Trekking Cycling/Mountain Biking Camping Kayaking/Rafting River Cruises Wildlife Rock Climbing Caving Elephant Adventures Caravans Find a
Premier Partner Tour Operator
by province: Attapeu Bokeo Luang Namtha Xieng Khouang Champassak Oudomxay Phongsali Vang Vieng Khammouane Luang Prabang Savannakhet Vientiane Capital
Green Discovery Laos
Head Office
: Vientiane
Green Discovery Laos
has been pioneering adventure travel and ecotourism in Laos since 2000, and offers more than 100 programs around the country.
Green Discovery
itineraries to meet your needs
.
can also customize
Safety
remains a top priority for
Green Discovery
, who is proud of its 100% safety record. All adventure equipment is of the highest international standards. Many of the guides are internationally certified in whitewater rescue, first aid and CPR.
Green Discovery
places equitably sharing the profits.
great emphasis on
Socially Responsible Tourism
, and is committed to engaging local communities as true business partners in developing and operating the tours and
Trekking
Activities
Mountain Biking Cycling Camping Kayaking/Rafting Rock Climbing Caving River Trips Elephant Adventures
Activities
Motorcycle Excursions Self-guided Caving Wildlife Watching Incentive Tours Four-wheeling Mekong Cruises Caravan Holidays Classical Vacations
Visit Green Discovery Laos
Head Office: Vientiane Tel: (856-21) 264 680 Email: [email protected]
Website: www.greendiscoverylaos.com
Operating in:
Luang Prabang Champassak Vang Vieng Luang Namtha Khammouane
Premier Partners: Eco-Accommodation
Ecotourism Laos'
Premier Partners
present a variety of well-run, environmentally friendly, socially responsible accommodation throughout the country. Though Laos does not have an official standard for eco-accommodation, Premier Partner properties meet most, if not all of these qualities: Use Lao architecture Located in/around natural areas Employ local people Use local products Conserve energy Avoid chemical use Use local building materials Help conserve nature Support host communities Lessen impacts on nearby villages Minimize and manage waste Find
Premier Partner Eco-accommodation
by province: Attapeu Bokeo Luang Namtha Savannakhet Xieng Khouang Champassak Oudomxay Phongsali Khammouane Vang Vieng Salavan Luang Prabang Vientiane Capital
Rivertime Ecolodge Resort
Location
: Vientiane Province Built harmoniously in a forest on the banks of the Nam Ngum River, just 40 minutes from Vientiane, the
Rivertime Ecolodge Resort
offers a genuine rural Lao experience with most of the comforts of home.
Constructed with local, natural materials without cutting down a single tree
, Rivertime Ecolodge Resort
presents relaxing, moderately priced accommodation with river views. Family-size private lodges include en-suite bathrooms, balconies overlooking the Nam Ngum and hot water showers.
Rivertime Ecolodge Resort
employs local staff and contributes US$2 per guest to local education and community development funds. The resort also offers a range of eco-activities and facilities.
Facilities
Floating restaurant Floating swimming pool Traditional Lao massage Small library and book swop Small Internet cafe with wifi Kid’s adventure playground Ecolodge Trail
Activities
Riverboat Tours Rice farming experience
Activities
Local village tours Lao cooking classes Traditional ‘Baci’ ceremony Fishing from our boats Forest Trekking Tubing on the Nam Ngum Hmong dance performances Mountain Biking Visit to traditional healer Buddhist Meditation Experience
Visit Rivertime Ecolodge Resort
Head Office: Tel: Email: [email protected]
Website: www.rivertimelaos.com
Premier Partners: Handicrafts
Laos offers a treasure trove of handicrafts produced by locals using traditional methods and natural materials.
Among the most popular are hand-woven silk and cotton textiles, silver work, woodcarvings, baskets, wicker ware and mulberry paper.
For those unable to visit the villages producing Lao handicrafts, Ecotourism Laos’
Premier Partners
offer a large selection of high-quality, traditional Lao handicrafts in many provincial capitals.
Find
Premier Partner Handicrafts
by province: Attapeu Bokeo Luang Namtha Savannakhet Xieng Khouang Champassak Oudomxay Phongsali Khammouane Vang Vieng Salavan Luang Prabang Vientiane Capital
Ock Pop Tok
Location
: Luang Prabang
Ock Pop Tok
, ‘East Meets West’, is a ninnovative textile gallery and weaving centre created by two local women with a passion for weaving and a vision for showcasing and selling Lao’s textiles to the world.
Visitors to the
Ock Pop Tok
centre can take a guided tour to observe local artisans transform raw silk into finished textiles, and enthusiasts can take classes in silk dyeing and weaving, and tours with home stays in weaving villages.
Ock Pop Tok
employs some 30 full-time staff and works directly with over 150 women from seven rural villages comprising a variety of ethnic groups throughout the provinces of northern Laos.
Handicrafts
Tung prayer flags Ikat designs ikat scarves tapestry Silk Scarves silk skirts
Activities
Cultural Fibre2Fabric Exhibitions Weaving and Dyeing Classes Lao Silk Scarf Weaving Classes Multi-day Textile Tours Master the Art of Ikat Classes Talks/Seminars/Workshops Customized Classes
Visit Ock Pop Tok
Tel: (+856) [0] 71 254406 / 253219 Email: [email protected]
Website: www.ockpoptok.com
Site Changes
To maximize the benefits for Premier Partners while maintaining the site’s objective of promoting ecotourism in Laos, some changes must be made besides those previously mentioned: • “Tour Operators” will now link to the Lao Association of Tour Agents’ (LATA) membership page. Ecotourism Laos will only feature Premier Partners: Tour Operators.
• In “Handicrafts”, the village crafts will remain, while businesses are invited to become Premier Partners. A link will direct visitors to the “Premier Partners: Handicrafts” page • “Eco-accommodation” listings will be upgraded to those of Premier Partners if the properties agree to become a member.
Membership Fees
The
Initial Setup Fee
includes writing/editing the listing to fit Ecotourism Laos’ template, layout, uploading and administration. The
Annual Membership Fee
will be distributed to the LNTA and the private-sector contractors to operate and administrate the site.
Initial Setup Fee: USD 80 Includes first-year annual listing/membership fee Members may change their page’s content each year Annual Listing/Membership Fee: USD 20 Listings in more than one province will be charged for each entry from the second year and beyond.
For more information, contact Bernie Rosenbloom: