The Lao Zoo in Keun village, Thoulakhom district, Vientiane province, has been losing money since it opened in 1994, which has limited its development, according to managers.
Since we opened the zoo to the public, we have had to earn money from other sources to subsidise our losses, said the zoo's Deputy Managing Director, Mr Prayuth Intarapanich, in a recent interview to explain why there had been no new animal species at the zoo for some time. He said the zoo generated an income of around 40 million kip each month, mainly from admission charges, but actually cost around 100 million kip to run each month, with expenditure including staff salaries, management costs and animal feed.
He said there were many reasons for the zoo's low income, but the main one was the small number of visitors coming to the zoo
each month. In 2006, just 100,000 people passed through the zoo, paying 5,000 kip each for admission.
Another zoo official said the entry fee was very low compared to neighbouring countries, especially Thailand , which charges around 150,000 kip to visit a zoo, with higher prices to see certain species.
How can we ever generate more income if we set the admission price so low?? he asked.
The Manager of the zoo's Marketing and Public Relations Department, Mr Philavong Sypaseuth, said Lao people were different from those in neighbouring countries.
Foreigners consider visiting a zoo a worthwhile experience, and are willing to pay for expensive tickets, but Lao people always complain about the price of admission, he said.
We can't increase the price of the tickets, because we know that Lao people would not visit,? he said.
Another problem was the relatively small number of visitors, due to the zoo's location quite far from the city. There were also various other tourist attractions springing up in the area, giving people better options than to visit the zoo.
If people have more choices, they will probably choose not to come to the zoo,? Mr Philavong said.
He pointed out that zoos in foreign countries were able to generate millions of dollars in profits each year, and explained that the zoo had started out as a joint venture between the government and a business owner, but the government relinquished its share in 2003, leaving the investor with the sole responsibility for all losses.
Our boss, who is the owner of the zoo, has been shouldering all extra costs by himself ever since the government withdrew,? Mr Philavong said.
He said that since the zoo had no profits, the investor could not afford to buy any new species for the zoo, so people felt no need to come back a second time.
He said that the zoo was currently looking for assistance from international non-governmental organisations, so as to be able to continue protecting the country's wildlife.
He also pointed out that the zoo was an important resource for students learning about animals and the environment.
IT'S ALL COMES DOWN TO THE MANAGEMENT. 1. THE ZOO IS LOCATED TO FAR FROM THE CITY. 2. THE ENTRY FEE IS WAY TOO LOW, NOT ENOUGH TO SUSTAIN THE RUNING COST AND STAFF SALARIES. 3. THE ZOO NEEDS TO DO MORE ADVERTISING TO GET LOCAL PEOPLE AS WELL AS THE TOURISTS IN. ADVERTISING AT THE ENTRY POINTS OF THE COUNTRY IS A GOOD START, E.G AT THE AIRPORT AND THE CUSTOM CHECK POINTS AT THE BRIGE SO THE VISITORS WILL VISIT THE ZOO. 4. CONSIDER MOVING IT CLOSER TO THE CITY. MOST LAO PEOPLE DON'T HAVE CARS, PROBABLY A GOOD IDEA TO HAVE THE ZOO IN THE CITY.
In some points, I agree with KON WUNG DEE However, it would be very difficult to move the whole zoo to the city. 1) where to move, who will support a large piece of land? if the goverment support a big peace of lands, then it is possible.
From my personal idea, I would recommend Lao government to continue support this zoo. It is the only zoo in Laos and the face of the country. The way to support is to provide bus service to the zoo every day.
All school should organize a study tour to the zoo regularly to learn about anmial and environment.
Lao National Tourism should include the zoo into their tour program.
The zoo itself should organize event to attract more people to come. Such as invite famost singers to perform in the zoo, the exhibition, environment day, etc..
IT'S ALL COMES DOWN TO THE MANAGEMENT. 1. THE ZOO IS LOCATED TO FAR FROM THE CITY. 2. THE ENTRY FEE IS WAY TOO LOW, NOT ENOUGH TO SUSTAIN THE RUNING COST AND STAFF SALARIES. 3. THE ZOO NEEDS TO DO MORE ADVERTISING TO GET LOCAL PEOPLE AS WELL AS THE TOURISTS IN. ADVERTISING AT THE ENTRY POINTS OF THE COUNTRY IS A GOOD START, E.G AT THE AIRPORT AND THE CUSTOM CHECK POINTS AT THE BRIGE SO THE VISITORS WILL VISIT THE ZOO. 4. CONSIDER MOVING IT CLOSER TO THE CITY. MOST LAO PEOPLE DON'T HAVE CARS, PROBABLY A GOOD IDEA TO HAVE THE ZOO IN THE CITY.
KON WUNG DEE
good ideas, but sounds rediculous for me in some cases. i think the location of the zoo is at the right place. Need more critically thinking. Our ppl always complain about things and prices, how come business will last longer and attractive more and more ppl to invest. It's going to be like Ethenic park on the way to friendship bridge and Youth Park near Thatluang, etc.
I really don't know how far Keun Village is from vientian province so I can not suggest about the distance . I think that we should not compare ourself to the neighboring country because their standard of living is higher so they will of course charge accordingly to it's high money, they also have more populations than Lao. One thing that I see from other countries is that beside the animals in the zoo they also have different type of animal shows to attract both the local and tourist. Many zoo also have amusement park and different flower bed added to attract torist and also bride and groom to be from the local area for wedding pictures.The flowers should also be changed or added according to it's seasons which make the zoo more attractive and different all year round and it also make it more fun than just going to see the same old stuff. Like you said every thing boiling down to money issue .
In some points, I agree with KON WUNG DEE
