MTDP

who we are

The LNTA-ADB Mekong Tourism Development Project (MTDP) assists local communities to develop their capacity to participate in and benefit from tourism. The project provides training to communities on guiding, hospitality, cooking, tourism management and marketing. The project also assists communities to build tourism related infrastructure such as guesthouses, rest areas and trail improvements. MTDP is implemented by the Lao National Tourism Administration (LNTA) with funding from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Partners include the EU, GTZ, SNV, UNESCO, and the Wildlife Conservation Society.

what we do

Community partners benefit from the project through the following areas:

• Guiding: The project trains village guides who are employed by tour companies as cultural and natural interpreters.
  
• Food: Villagers are taught how to prepare local food for tourists, which is included on all tours.
  
• Accommodation: Communities are assisted in setting up homestays and building community lodges from which income is earned through sleeping fees.
  
• Handicrafts: Producers are provided with information on how to improve their handicrafts for sale to tourists.
  
• Cultural Performance: The project supports performance and traditional arts and encourages villages to protect their authentic traditions.
  
• Community Funds and Permits: MTDP has helped all of its target communities to create village development funds, which receive a portion of the revenues generated on every tour. The project also promotes the introduction of national protected area entrance fees to support the the conservation of Laos' rich biodiversity.