Town of Luang Prabang

• Lack of enforcement of the Luang Prabang Conservation Plan (PSMV) and illegal constructions;
• Public works (proposed new town, airport extension, pedestrian bridge) which may affect the Outstanding Universal Value. 

Total amount provided to the property: USD 200,000 (France / UNESCO Cooperation Agreement).

In response to the request made by the World Heritage Committee at its 36th session, the State Party submitted a State of conservation report on 17 January 2014 that itemizes the progress made in addressing the points raised in Decision 36 COM 7B.63.

The State Party reports that major development plans are now satisfactorily controlled. With regard to the Committee’s request that the hotel projects be altered to conform to the newly revised urban plan and be supported by a full Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA), the State Party reports that two luxury hotel projects are currently in development. One, the Hotel Anathara with a total area of 4.5 ha, is located in south-east of the Luang Prabang, within the buffer zone. The State Party assures the Committee that the project has been studied with great care by the architectural team of the Maison du Patrimoine, and has been revised several times in order to conform to the rules recently established for the buffer zone and approved by the World Heritage Committee at its 37th session (Decision 37 COM 8B.47). However, the World Heritage Centre and Advisory Bodies note that a mission was undertaken in March 2014 within the framework of the France-UNESCO Convention and that it recommends that the position of the Hotel Anathara building, currently too close to the Mekong river, should be revised to respect the visual aspect of the river. 

The second project is the hotel Yunna Copper Luang Prabang Laos, also located within the buffer zone, with a total area of 16ha; 6 ha of this is to be preserved as rice fields while the remaining 10 ha is earmarked for the construction of the hotel building. The State Party reassures the Commitee that the same criteria will be applied to this second hotel project.

Regarding the proposed new town in Chompeth Valley, and the plan to construct a Dam in the Mekong River 60km from Luang Prabang, the State Party reports that these two projects are still pending, as the investors who expressed their interest in 2008 have not returned to the relevant authorities. Therefore, the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) for the Mekong Dam to be constructed 60 km upstream of the property have not been submitted.

In light of the progress made by the State Party, it is considered that the main concerns of the World Heritage Committee are currently being addressed. However, the State Party is encouraged to continue with strict application of the PSMV (Plan de sauvegarde et de mise en valeur) in controlling the development pressure in the property and the buffer zone to prevent any threats to the Outstanding Universal Value of the property. In addition, the State Party could revive the Heritage Fund, established in 2012 to finance the Maison du Patrimoine.