Thematic Interpretation Plan Savannakhet Province Lao People’s Democratic Republic GMS-Sustainable Tourism Development Project in Lao PDR Lao National Tourism Administration Prepared by: Linda Susan McIntosh, PhD Candidate Thematic Interpretation and Textile Specialist 33 Soi 1 Sukhumvit Road Klongtoey-nua, Wattana What is Thematic Interpretation? Thematic Interpretation is the practice of verbal and non-verbal communication, using illustrated and non-illustrated techniques to present complex subject matter in an interesting and engaging way. One model of Thematic Interpretation is TORE™ = Thematic, Organized, Relevant, and Enjoyable “Successful interpretation provokes people to think. Their thinking creates meanings in their own minds. Themes can stay with us, even when we forget the smaller facts that support them. Strong themes stick in our minds, some of them forever”. Themes, because they are whole ideas, are expressed in the same form as information already stored in our minds. So when we communicate a theme effectively we give visitors something they can readily relate, self-appropriate, and incorporate into their thinking. Themes are ideas not topics: Examples of Themes: An Example of a Topic: • Birds are a fascinating group of animals • Birds because of their special adaptations for flight. • Native birds everywhere are in a fight for their lives because of overdevelopment and Having a theme helps us prepare educational and promotional materials. It makes our job a lot easier because with a theme we able to understand what to include and not include in a presentation to visitors. 2 SAVANNAKHET HISTORIC TRAIL - Background The SAVANNAKHET HISTORIC TRAIL is a new tour circuit consisting of historic, cultural and natural attractions, situated along the East-West Corridor in Savannakhet Province, Lao PDR. Development of this circuit is an initiative introduced by the GMS Sustainable Tourism Project (STDP) in Lao PDR. The main goal of the STDP is to contribute to sustainable socioeconomic development of Lao PDR, focusing on poverty reduction, sustainable development, protection of natural and cultural resources, and the prevention of vulnerable populations from exploitation. Vision: The SAVANNAKHET HISTORIC TRAIL will become an internationally known tourist destination that offers authentic, safe and thought-provoking experiences based on the historic, cultural and natural heritage of Savannakhet Province. Aims: 1. Support the efforts of the Lao government to alleviate poverty be developing tourism along the East-West Corridor in Savannakhet Province. 2. Assist in the conservation of valuable historic, natural and cultural resources 3. Increase income of local residents, especially women, by expanding community- based tourism and local product development 4. Improve services and management of tourist attractions 5. Improve tourism management at provincial, district, and community attractions 6. Improve service, safety, and hygiene standards 7. Enhance private sector participation, investment, and tour operations 8. Increase revenue by extending the average length of a tourist’s stay in Savannakhet Province 9. Diversify the tourism products in Savannakhet Province 10. Establish the SAVANNAKHET HISTORIC TRAIL as an internationally recognized tourist destination 3 Background- Savannakhet Province Savannakhet Province is located in south-central Lao PDR. With a landmass of 21,774 sq km Savannakhet is the largest province in Lao PDR, sharing borders with (Khammouane and Salavan Province as well as two other nations (Vietnam and Thailand). • Northern Border: Khammouane Province • Southern Border: Salavan Province • Western Border: Mukdahan Province, Thailand • Eastern Border: Quang Tri and Quang Binh Provinces, Vietnam Large rivers form several of the province’s boundaries. The Mekong River forms the western boundary and the international boundary with Thailand. Parts of Xe Bang Fai River (239 km) that originates in the Annamite Cordillera and Xe Nou River form the border between Khammouane and Savannakhet provinces. The Xe Bang Hieng River (338 km) also begins in the Annamite Cordillera and empties into the Mekong River. Two National Protected Areas (NPAs) encompass Phuthai and other ethnic settlements in Savannakhet Province. The Phou Xang Hae (Elephant Parade) NPA covers five districts, mainly Vilabouly, Phalanxay, Phine, Xepone, and Atsaphone. The Don Phou Vieng NPA covers parts of three districts: Phine, Xepone, and Nong. In the year 2000 approximately 70 percent of the province was forested, especially lands that fall within the two NPA’s (Chantavong 2003: 44). Savannakhet Province consists of 15 districts: Kaysone Phomvihane (formerly Khanthabouly), Xonbouly, Champhone, Songkhone, Atsaphone, Phine, Vilabouly, Xepone, Phalanxay, Xayphouthong, Xaybouly, Outhoumphone, Atsahangthong, Nong, and Thapangthong. As Lao PDRs’ most populous province, it contains approximately 824,000 inhabitants, according to the 2005 National Census. Savannakhet municipality, renamed 4 Kaysone Phomvihane after the country’s first premier in 2006, has a population of over 125,000, making it the most populous town in southern Laos. The province’s population consists of various ethnic groups. The Lao and Phuthai are the most numerous, consisting of 75 percent of the population. The majority of remaining population belongs to the Katuic sub-branch of the Khmer language family. These include the Bru, Katang, Kui (or Sui), Mankhong (or Makong), So, and Trii. The Katang (population estimate of 107,000), who speak a Central Katuic language of the Mon-Khmer ethno- linguistic family, inhabit Xonbouly, Phine, Nong, and Thapangthong districts (Gordon 2005). Western Katuic speaking groups include the Kui (Sui), Trii, Eastern Bru, So, and Mankhong. Researchers state that some of these groups are subgroups of one another but there is no consensus. Gordon (2005) states that the So and Mankhong (population of 102,000) compose the same group while the Trii are part of the Bru (69,000 population). However, members of each of these groups consider themselves distinct from each other (Schliesinger 2003b). The Bru and Trii live in Vilabouly, Xepone, and Nong districts. Mankhong villages are found in Xepone and Nong districts. Other minority groups mainly found in urban areas include Vietnamese, Chinese, and Indian peoples. These groups have played an important role in inter-regional trade over the centuries and continue these roles today. Pre-History Little attention has been given to archaeological investigations of Savannakhet Province’s prehistory and early history. Fossilized dinosaur remains were first uncovered in Xonbouly District by French researchers and a few follow-up studies have unearthed more remains, but additional investigations will certainly provide more information about the area’s prehistory. Locals in Vilabouly District have also found Bronze Age artifacts (Dong Son 5 culture) and ancient copper mines, leading to the conclusion that pre-historic human settlements did exist in this area and were likely involved in the trade of metals. In the last ten years, some preliminary archaeological surveys have been conducted in Xepone District. Stone tools and ceramic shards found during these surveys suggest people have inhabited this area for centuries or perhaps millennia. The flaked pebble tools and cord-marked pottery are associated with the pan-Southeast Asian Hoabinhian techno- culture. The polished tools point to a post- Hoabinhian period that spans into recorded history. Porcelain shards and some of the tools are trade items. Remnants of terraced agricultural systems include terraced floors arranged in a staircase fashion, diversion dams, ditches cut along the contour to connect the dams to the upper floors, channeled waterways, and evidence of taro planting. These are reminiscent to the systems built by the Malayo- Polynesians of island Southeast Asia. None of the local villagers know who built the stone terraces (and do not know how to construct the terraces) or planted the taro, but recognize that they are very old. In conclusion, the archaeological findings suggest human habitation of area at least 4,000 years ago. History The origin myths of both the Lao and Phuthai state that their ancestors came Muang Naa Noi Oi Nuu, which is another name for Muang Thaeng (today north-western Viet Nam), according to the legend of Khun Bulom (Wajuppa 2004). From the vicinity of Muang Thaeng, the Lao-Phuthai migrated westward towards the Nam Ou or Ou River. Moving down the Nam Ou, they reached the Mekong River and then proceeded to settle southward along the Mekong. The Phuthai separated from the Lao and settled in the central and southern region of present-day Laos, far inland from the Mekong River, establishing villages organized under the principality of Muang Vang Ang Kham in present-day Eastern Savannakhet beginning in the early 16th century. 6 Several of the smaller Phuthai muang, such as Phalane, Phine, and Xepone, were situated near or along a historical trade route that began on the coast of the South China Sea and headed west through the Annamite Cordillera towards the Mekong River (Harmand 1997: 215-30, Seidenfeiden 1958: 112, Snit and Breazeale 1988: 1-2). There were three main routes from the South China Sea to inland Southeast Asia, starting at Vinh or Hue and going west across the Annamite Cordillera and following the rivers of the Nam Kading, Xe Bang Fai, and Xe Bang Hieng, for example. Thus, the routes cut through Phuthai territory situated