Smokers face bans in Luang Prabang
LUANG PRABANG – The Lao town of Luang Prabang has become the first World Heritage site to ban smoking in public places.
The regulation prohibits people from smoking in public places such as workplaces, temples, on public transport, and in other public areas in the town.
There are currently 185 UNESCO-listed World Heritage Sites around the world, but Luang Prabang is the first to ban smoking.
Vice chairman of the Luang Prabang Tobacco Control Taskforce, Kongchan Kommavong, said, “From now on, our heritage city will be smoke free. We want to set a good example for other
World Heritage sites, and to demonstrate that it is our policy to protect the health not only of the people of Laos, but also of visitors.”
He believed that the smoke-free policy would be beneficial to the tourism industry in the province and draw more tourists from all over the world to Luang Prabang.
The tobacco control regulation covers both indoor and outdoor areas of Buddhist temples and other tourist spots, as well as workplaces and public transport. In addition, smoking will not be allowed inside hotels, guesthouses or restaurants.
Hotels, guesthouses and restaurants said they welcomed the ban.
Ian Jarrett
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