Ministerial Order No. 2219/MAF on Strengthening the Strictness of Management, Monitoring, and Inspection of Eco‑Tourism in Conservation Forests and National Parks.

This Ministerial Order establishes stricter regulations for nature-based tourism within Laos' National Protected Areas (NPAs) and National Parks. The primary objective is to balance the promotion of tourism with the urgent need to protect biodiversity, preserve forest resources, and ensure that tourism infrastructure does not negatively impact the environment.
The Order mandates several key actions for authorities and investors: Authorities must identify and allocate specific zones for tourism that have high potential but low environmental risk; It prohibits individuals or entities from "land grabbing" or occupying protected land under the guise of tourism without proper legal authorization; All tourism businesses operating in these areas must strictly adhere to the Forestry Law and relevant environmental protection standards.
Specifically, the Department of Forestry and provincial agriculture offices are tasked with screening investors more rigorously. They must ensure that any approved project demonstrates a clear commitment to maintaining the natural landscape and supporting local communities, rather than just exploiting the land for commercial gain.