In Laos, death from methanol poisoning sends chills through backpacker’s paradise | Travel News

Vang Vieng, Laos – The streets of Vang Vieng are quieter than usual as global scrutiny falls on the popular tourist destination following the deaths of six foreign tourists from suspected methanol poisoning.

Across from the Nana Backpackers Hostel, where all six victims lived before falling ill, a local tuk-tuk driver sits in his car smoking a cigarette and chatting with his young son.

“I don’t know much about this subject. I only saw it on Facebook,” said the tuk-tuk driver, asking that his name be withheld.

“I am always here to transport tourists. In this hotel there are only foreigners, no Asians in general. They have parties every Friday night that go on until Saturday morning.”

However, on this recent Saturday morning, visitors are few and far between.

The gates of Nana Backpackers hostel are closed but not locked. There is no police or notice indicating that it is closed to do business.

The driver says he is worried about his 10-year-old son who is growing up as a teenager in Vang Vieng. He wants both locals and tourists to be safe.

“I haven’t seen much change in my business, but the area is quiet now, and there aren’t many tourists who need transportation,” he said.

Two Australians, a British citizen, two Danes, and an American died from what is believed to be methanol, an industrial chemical commonly used in bootleg alcohol.

News reports say the victims visited the nearby Jaidee Bar before they were found unconscious at the Nana Backpackers hostel.

The manager of the hostel is reportedly in police custody, although Lao authorities have not confirmed this.

As the investigation continues, Lao authorities have released few details about the case. Embassies in Denmark, Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States declined to comment.

Foreign backpackers in the city continue to come and go, some seem more concerned about the dangers than others.

“We heard what happened. We are not too worried about it,” said another Spanish tourist in his 20s.

Alice Anastasi, a 23-year-old Australian tourist, says hostels are “very careful” about visitors, parties and the sale of alcohol.

Among local businesses, some owners think about the need for a better balance between tourism that generates income and security.

“This is the first time I have seen something like this happen in Vang Vieng,” said a local tour operator, asking not to be identified.

“There are many people affected like this. Usually a lot of people get drunk in bars, but nothing like this has ever happened.”

In Vang Vieng and other Southeast Asian tourist destinations, the rise of adulterated alcohol has been blamed on economic pressures and lax regulations.

Some local producers use methanol instead of ethanol because it is cheaper, and can be used to fortify drinks or improve low-grade alcohol.

Southeast Asia has the highest levels of methanol poisoning in the world, with Indonesia having the most reported cases, although Cambodia, Vietnam, and the Philippines are also affected.

Some tourism industry figures say the deaths have exposed the perilous incentives that drive tourism that is concentrated in Vang Vieng.

A local man involved in organizing outdoor activities for backpackers says the business model of offering cheap alcohol to budget-conscious tourists encourages unsafe cost-cutting practices like using methanol.

“Some visitors feel that [the alcohol] it’s not strong enough, and they’re asking to have more,” he said, asking not to be named.

“It’s no secret,” he said of the canteens that sell cheap drinks.

In Vang Vieng’s tourism industry, which is the region’s leading economy, the poisoning had an immediate impact, locals said.

“I have seen a change in the business since this incident happened, for sure. Because Nana Hostel had many customers,” said the tourism director.

“We have a lot of them who will buy tour packages with hot air balloon or tubes, but now there are not many at all.”

Vang Vieng’s reputation as a party destination has been fierce for years.

The town, 130 kilometers (80 miles) from the capital Vientiane, has been working to shake off its bad reputation for dangerous behavior since 2011, when 27 people drowned when a pipeline burst on the Nam Song River.

In recent years, local authorities have tried to attract high-end tourists by focusing more on 4- and 5-star hotels and specially designated entertainment venues away from the city center.

With international visibility in the city following the recent tragedy, the authorities were under pressure to take decisive action.

“I saw all the international news sites that wrote about it. It is causing suffering in this city,” said the tourism manager.

Still, he remains optimistic about Vang Vieng’s future as a tourist destination.

“I still think it is safer if tourists come to enjoy nature, not to drink alcohol or illegal drugs. Vang Vieng is still safe, but be careful when you go to bars and don’t try things you’ve never tried before.”

Although the international media has widely reported the story, many people in this country, who rely on Facebook for news, are unaware of what happened.

“Don’t panic, it’s safe here,” said a fruit vendor just a few meters from the Nana hostel.

“Yes, people from other countries often come to drink or take drugs here. But there are many Lao people who come to this market. They are not really immigrants,” said the woman.

Vang Vieng saw 35 percent more tourists this year compared to 2023, according to government statistics.

The increase is part of a larger trend.

Tourism is booming across Laos, helping to drive strong economic growth, which is expected to reach 4.2 percent in 2024 and 4.5 percent in 2025.

Nearby Luang Prabang has received about 1.7 million visitors already this year, bringing in about $220m to the local economy, according to government figures.

The government has approved 1,374 domestic and foreign investment projects worth more than $2.36bn in the first nine months of 2023, with the services sector, including tourism, accounting for 42 percent of this investment.

Despite progress, the country’s economy continues to face major challenges.

Inflation is running at about 25 percent and the national debt is about 75 percent of gross domestic product (GDP).

Foreign debt payments almost doubled to $950m in the latest forecast, almost half of which is China’s debt for various infrastructure projects, including the Laos-China Railway.

A French bar owner, who has lived in Vang Vieng for more than two decades, believes that foreign attention gives the authorities “a good reason” to speed up plans to change the city’s image.

The $2-4 dollar guesthouses that once existed in the area are increasingly giving way to luxury hotels as more arrivals seek to appreciate nature instead of partying.

“They are trying to get rid of this image, step by step,” said the bar owner, explaining how the city welcomes investors to build four- and five-star hotels.

The latest disaster coincides with a 15-month renovation plan to improve Vang Vieng’s infrastructure and image.

Originally slated to begin in November, it was recently pushed back, possibly until after National Day on December 2.

The plans include $15m in funding to improve 8.5km (5 miles) of roads, build 15 new bridges and improve drainage systems.

“Yes, progress is slow, but this problem may propel Vang Vieng to a higher, more regulated tourism destination,” said the bar owner.