Thread: Smokers Not Welcome In Luang Prabang

SMOKERS NOT WELCOME IN LUANG PRABANG
Cigarettes put historic sites, status at risk
Story by APIRADEE TREERUTKUARKUL

Luang Prabang has become the first World Heritage city to ban smoking in public places.

Eye-catching red and white posters, stickers and mobiles carrying anti-smoking messages both in English and Lao have been put up in every corner, from tourist attractions like the historic Xiangthong temple to accommodation and retail shops of this serene city on the Mekong River in Laos since May 30, World No Tobacco Day.

Apart from health reasons, Luang Prabang residents believe the smoke-free policy will enable them to better conserve the city's historic sites, such as the huen moradok, or colonial-style mansions that were built when the country was still under French rule.
Scientific studies have found that cigarettes appear to pose as much danger to the historic landmarks as human health.
The city's residents say some of the ancient buildings have been reduced to ashes over the past few years in cigarette-related fire accidents caused by the carelessness of smokers, who had dropped burning cigarette butts on the floor and ignited the fires.

"Second-hand cigarette smoke is also harmful to the health of non-smokers. We want to make sure no more damage is done to the beautiful and ancient buildings that are still standing and housing rich architectural work out of someone's carelessness, as that could see Luang Prabang being stripped of its World Heritage status one day," said Bungon Ritthiphakdee, coordinator of Southeast Asian Tobacco Alliance, a non-governmental organisation advocating the anti-smoking project.

The organisation played an active role in drafting the "Tobacco Free Luang Prabang" regulation which prohibits smoking in both indoor and outdoor areas of tourist spots and temples, state offices and public transport.

Any hotels, guesthouses and restaurants which still permit smoking are now required to arrange designated smoking areas for their guests.

According to a public opinion poll conducted by the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), 96.7% of respondents, including local residents and business operators, agreed with the smoke-free campaign.

About 59% of restaurant operators also agreed to give the campaign a boost.

"In general, most locals dislike cigarettes and second-hand smoke. But they think it is impolite to ask their guests to refrain from smoking. So having this regulation in place helps them greatly. It is good for their health, business and the World Heritage city at the same time," said Maniphan Vongphosy, researcher at ADRA.
Although the Lao government has had the smoke-free policy in place since 2000, which bans smoking in schools, hospitals, government offices, restaurants and other public places, enforcement was weak. In order to raise public awareness, anti-smoking activists and the government co-hosted a mini-marathon to campaign for tobacco-free zones on May 30. More than 600 officials, students and local people took part in it. Daeng Boonkamtip, a staff member of the Le Tam Tam guesthouse, said the place has always allowed its guests to smoke since it opened five years ago.

"But now the time has arrived to ban it. The strong smell of second-hand smoke is unacceptable, especially in a small place like ours. Cigarette smoke makes it difficult to breathe during work. More importantly, it drives away non-smoking guests," said Daeng, who also attended the campaign activities on May 30.

Kongchan Kommavong, vice-chairman of the Luang Prabang Tobacco Control Task Force, said he believed the regulation would help protect the health of residents in the province, while he also believes that the smoke-free policy benefits the tourism industry in Luang Prabang. "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 said.

Bangkok Post