Melbourne teenagers Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles, both aged 19, tragically lost their lives along with four other tourists after suffering methanol poisoning from drinks they consumed during a night out in the party town of Vang Vieng.
All six people who died were staying at the Nana Backpacker Hostel.
The hostel shut down following the deaths, but it is now understood that Nana Backpacker Hostel plans to reopen under the new name of Vang Vieng Central Backpacker Hostel.
It’s available for bookings online and is reportedly advertising free shots at the venue, Ben Fordham reported today on 2GB.
Holly’s heartbroken father Shaun told Fordham he is going to do everything in his power to stop the hostel from opening up to travellers again.
“The potential of this happening to someone else is very real because obviously they haven’t changed their ways,” Shaun said.
“We’re going to collaborate with some people and do everything in our power to ensure that place doesn’t reopen, because it’s just not right.
“To have no justice and to find out that they’re going to reopen the backpackers… it’s just the worst news.”
Shaun said there has been nothing but “radio silence” from the local government in Laos regarding the investigation into the six deaths.
He said he doesn’t believe the Laos officials have taken the deaths seriously.
“They tell us that it’s sitting with the prosecutors but… we can’t even get a meeting with the Laos ambassador to Australia in Canberra to ask some questions and to find out some answers,” he added.
This week will be Holly’s birthday, the first the Bowles family will mark without their beloved daughter.
Shaun told Fordham the news of the backpacker hostel’s plans to reopen has added to their already “unfathomable” pain.
â”We remember her so fondly,” he added.
“Someone needs to be held accountable.”
Online listings for Vang Vieng Central Backpacker Hostel are available to view online through sites such as TripAdvisor.
Travellers staying in the area reported to BBC that construction work was underway at the address.
9News spoke to the former manager of Nana Backpacker, known as Pikachu, who confirmed his connection to the 4-star hotel in the heart of Vang Vieng’s party district.
The revelations were yet another blow for the Australian families and their search for justice.
“As parents of Holly and Bianca we are angered at the recent news from Laos,” the families said in a joint statement.
“We are disappointed in the Australian government as we are again the last to know.”
