My MCOM 72 teacher tasked the class to find an international website. I wanted to find one based in Laos, the country in which my parents are from. Before I get to the most credible looking website I found, here’s some background.

Laos, also known as the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country surrounded by Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia. It is a peripheral nation, having a GDP of 12,130 (according to the CIA World Factbook). It is the poorest country in Southeast Asia.

Like other peripheral countries lacking adequate resources and infrastructure to boost their economies, Laos is trying to make a name for itself in the tourism market. The Lao National Tourism Administration launched their Ecotourism Laos website in 2005 in hopes to attract travelers to their culturally rich country.

Ecotourism entails traveling to foreign countries to experience their local cultures, wildlife and adventures without disrupting the cultural heritage. The website focuses on just that.

Ecotourism Laos is as thorough as they come, providing various attractions, travel information, travel services and ecotourism resources. A photo gallery gives a sneak peak of all the cultural richness Laos has intact and a nifty “DO’s and DONT’s” section prepares you for a Lao adventure.

I was only able to find Lao-based websites promoting tourism, which makes their lack of infrastructure even more evident. Apparently, they do not have great means for technology. But that is what makes it interesting. Even one of the poorest nations in the world has a website. Technology seems to be in the grasp of everyone and is slowly homogenizing the world.


Side note: If you are someone who is interested in experiencing rich culture and wildlife, consider a trip to Laos. It is a great place, beautiful and vibrant. It is one of the world’s forgotten gems.