Research & Article

This article traces the process to inscribe Lao PDR’s Plain of Jars as a World Heritage (WH) Property, from a Tentative Listing in 1992 to the official inscription in 2019. After discussing the criteria for proposing eleven archaeological sites from a total inventory of 100 sites, and the Advisory Bodies’ evaluation, the article will summarise future challenges inherent in a WH listing, from increased visitation to tourism-led development. Local involvement and village contracts will be essential for day-to-day maintenance, as will protection through national and international instruments to preserve a property’s outstanding universal value on which this prestigious accolade is grante.