Hospitality venues given the all clear
Hotels, guesthouses, restaurants and food vendors in downtown Vientiane are now ready to provide top quality service to customers during the SEA Games in December.
At the National Culture Hall last Friday the Ministry of Health presented ‘Good Environment, Good Service, Safe Food, Good Health' certificates to the operators of 74 hotels, 85 guesthouses, 36 restaurants and 114 food stalls.
It was the first round of certificate presentations, with the second to follow at the end of November.
The ministry began inspecting standards at guesthouses, hotels, restaurants and food stalls in downtown Vientiane last year and will continue to do so to ensure standards are high for guests visiting Laos during the SEA Games.
Ministry staff will also carry out health checks on people involved in preparing food at the venues to guarantee food safety and hygiene standards.
Health officials will hold training courses on hygiene standards and safety measures in the lead-up to the games.
Eleven hotels, 63 guesthouses, 18 restaurants and 42 food stalls failed to pass inspections. They will be given a chance to improve their facilities before officials carry out a second round of inspections next month.
The presentation ceremony was attended by Vice Minister of Health and Chairman of the 25th SEA Games Medical Committee, Prof Dr Eksavang Vongvichit, and representatives from accommodation facilities.
Dr Eksavang called on certificate recipients to maintain high standards in the coming weeks and after the games end.
He urged those who failed to pass the inspections to improve so that they can receive certification in the next round and take advantage of the influx of visitors during the SEA Games.
Dr Eksavang said the games are rapidly approaching and all sectors involved must ensure final preparations are completed promptly.
The Lao SEA Games Organising Committee is working closely with the ministry to ensure there are no outbreaks of disease or viruses during the games.
The Vientiane Health Department, which falls under the ministry, is responsible for several areas of preparation for the games, including inspecting hygiene standards at hotels, guesthouses, restaurants, and athletes' accommodation, as well as anti-doping, disease control, and food and drinking water standards.
The department has finished checking health standards at 60 percent of hotels and guesthouses in Vientiane in the lead-up to the games.
The games have also been announced a ‘smoke-free' event, further contributing to athlete and spectator health.
The Vientiane Urban Development and Administration Authority will install signs bearing the ‘No Smoking 25th SEA Games' slogan at the Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge and Wattay International Airport.
By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
Ocotber 26 , 2009
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