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Ecotourism is one activity that can help to protect Xe Pian from some of the various threats that face it now. Ifdevelopedproperly, tourism can provide an alternative income to the people of Xe Pian help to reduce poverty, and create economic incentives to local people to protect wildlife, forests and wetlands.
Ecotourism …
• Provides local people living inside Xe Pian an alternative source of income, which reduces poverty and pressures on natural resources.
• Increases awareness among local people about the global biodiversity values of Xe Pian NPA’s biodiversity.
• Gives incentives to local hunters to become tour guides instead of hunting.
• Earns money for the national protected area office so that it can pay for patrols and other important protection activities. Currently the protected area is extremely under-funded.
• Encourages local people keep Xe Pian clean and beautiful for visitors.
The following are specific guidelines for tourists visiting Xe Pian NPA. For a general list of cultural do’s and don’ts for travel in the Lao PDR click here
Do’s
• Take a guide on all tours. By taking a guide you will get a lot of interesting information about the forest and you will be supporting local
people to protect the forest and wildlife.
• Purchase tours from designated tour companies. By going with a designated tour company you will receive better service and can be sure that all necessary costs/fees to the village and protected area are included.
• Ask your local guide lots of questions about wildlife and the forest. This will increase the guide’s awareness about what is special and interesting to you, which will make your tour much better.
• Engage villagers in a discussion about wildlife and conservation (with the help of an English-speaking guide or with pictures of animals). This will help build awareness among villagers about what your are interested in and what is special about the protected area.
• When paying for fees in the village, such as homestay, food, guides, boats, and elephants, pay according to the price list in the village. This reduces confusion between visitors and villagers and ensures that prices are not too high or too low.
• Bring your own water bottle. This will minimize waste.
• Bring a water filter. This will minimize the use of firewood.
• Accept people’s generosity when offered. Often times people will invite you into their homes or to join a ceremony or festival. Don’t be shy. Lao people want to get to know you and enjoy having visitors.
Don’ts
• Do not go trekking on your own. Yes, it may be cheaper to go on your own, but by doing so you are not supporting local people in the protection of the forests that you walk through. You will alsonot learn very much along the way, and you might even get lost (trails are not marked)!
• Do not collect orchids, plants, wildlife products or anything else that comes from the forest. Local people are allowed to use plants for their daily subsistence, but it is prohibited for outsiders to take anything out of the protected area. Leave them there for the next visitors to enjoy.
• Do not litter. Please pack out all of your non-biodegradable waste and take it back to the town with you. Please, do not leave any rubbish in the villages. Villagers are still learning how to manage modern waste (plastic bags, wrappers, bottles/cans, etc), and most villages do not yet have proper waste disposal sites.
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