Poisoning victim’s dad vows to stop reopening of Laos hostel

The father of one of the two Australian women who died after being poisoned at a Laos backpacker hostel in late 2024, has vowed to ensure the venue never reopens.

The father of Holly Bowles, a young woman who died by suspected poisoning in a Laotian backpacker hostel in November 2024, has vowed to ensure the venue is never allowed to reopen.

Shaun Bowles told 2GB’s Ben Fordham on Tuesday morning it was “unfathomable” to hear news of the hostel’s plan to reopen under a new name.

“The potential of this happening to someone else is very real because obviously they haven’t changed their ways,” Mr Bowles said.

“We’re gonna put our heads together with some people and we’re gonna do everything we can to make sure that place doesn’t reopen because it’s just not right,” he said.

“To have no justice and to find out that they’re going to reopen the backpackers … it’s just the worst news.”

Nana Backpacker hostel became the centre of international attention in November 2024 after six backpackers, including two 19-year-old Australian women, died after a suspected methanol poisoning.

Mr Bowles’ daughter Holly and her friend Bianca Jones had been drinking at the venue, which plans to reopen later this year under the name “Vang Vieng Central Backpackers Hostel”.

Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones. Picture: supplied

One English backpacker who recovered from the suspected poisoning told the BBC it was “unbelievable” to hear of the hostel’s reopening.

Bethany Clarke and her friend Simone White fell ill one day after drinking free vodka shots at Nana Backpackers, and while Bethany was able to recover, Simone would succumb to her illness several days later.

“I’m shocked. If it’s the same management or ownership involved, I wouldn’t trust them,” Ms Clarke said.

“It’s just unbelievable because we know that was where we were poisoned.”

An picture of the hostel where the alleged poisonings took place. Picture: AFP

Mr Bowles believes the Laotian government is not taking 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 told Fordham.

“We remember (Holly) so fondly … someone needs to be held accountable,” he said.

The hostel now appears on TripAdvisor under the newly proposed name, however bookings cannot be made through the site.

Originally published as Poisoning victim’s dad vows to stop reopening of Laos hostel