Houaphanh province is set to upgrade Nong Khang airport to international status to boost tourism and economic development across the province, Governor Khampheng Saysompheng announced during a government meeting in Vientiane on 26-27 December, 2023.
The provincial government’s plan aims to facilitate direct international flights to Houaphanh, attracting foreign tourists and business investments in the region.
Currently constrained by challenging road access, the airport primarily serves small domestic flights, necessitating a three-kilometer runway extension for larger aircraft.
To accommodate the anticipated influx of tourists in 2024 as part of the Visit Laos campaign, the province plans to also improve local infrastructure, including roads, hotels, and restaurants.
Nong Khang Airport’s expansion aligns with the national development plans of the Department of Civil Aviation and the Ministry of Public Works and Transport. This move also supports Laos’ ambition to become a regional hub for land and air connections.
Built to meet International Civil Aviation Organization standards, the airport can currently handle 100,000 passengers annually, mainly on small ATR72 (Regional Transport Aircraft 72) and MA-60 aircraft with 70–100 seats. It operates domestic flights between Vientiane Capital and Houaphanh Province by Lao Airlines and Lao Skyway.
Nong Khang Airport, constructed under the Build-Operate-Transfer model, commenced operations in 2013. Funded and built by a Vietnamese company, the airport was officially handed over to provincial authorities in May 2023.
The airport represents a significant milestone in Laos-Vietnam cooperation, fulfilling long-awaited expectations for growth in Houaphanh. The airport also serves as a vital trade gateway between Laos and Vietnam, contributing substantially to cross-border trade and symbolizing the enduring friendship between the two nations.
https://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/7.jpg6271200Sylivanla Vongphachanhhttps://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Lao-Simply-Beautiful-.webpSylivanla Vongphachanh2024-02-26 01:43:002024-02-07 11:46:14Airport in Houaphanh Set for International Upgrade
Laos was known to be one of the safest countries in Southeast Asia, but things seem to have taken a slightly different turn in recent years. With an increasing influx of foreign visitors, a rising concern about the country’s crime rate has emerged, echoing through various voices on social media.
“The country is on its way to promote the Visit Lao Year campaign, but thieves and robbers are walking freely. I haven’t heard a single news story saying that the authorities have arrested any of these wrongdoers,” a Facebook user commented on a post about a recent robbery case.
As the country enters the Visit Lao Year Campaign 2024, a series of incidents in Vang Vieng, Vientiane Province, have prompted social media users to call for immediate attention to safety concerns.
On 2 January, a male French tourist fell victim to a robbery as he was cycling around town with his family. Two assailants on a motorbike targeted the family, making off with a bag containing USD 157.6, a camera, four passports, and two ATM cards.
Prompt reporting by the hotel where the family was staying failed to lead to the apprehension of the perpetrators, who are still at large. The tourists, highlighting the crucial need to recover their passports, have ignited an ongoing investigation into the incident.
On the following day, another incident occurred in Vang Vieng, culminating in the tragic death of a Korean national. The tourist was driving a buggy when the vehicle lost control, flipped over, and tragically resulted in a fatal accident.
Concerns flooded social media as users pointed fingers at the poorly maintained roads in the district, holding them accountable for the unfortunate event. One Facebook user added,
“Vang Vieng’s main revenue comes from tourism, but, seriously, they have to improve the quality of the roads more.”
“There has to be some guides in place that tell the tourists about the speed they should be driving vehicles on certain roads in Vang Vieng to prevent this kind of accident from happening,” wrote another user.
The timing of these events, back-to-back, in a region heavily reliant on tourism, has sparked calls for increased security measures and improved infrastructure.
While the concerns remain, Vientiane Province has set its sights on an ambitious tourism goal for 2024, with the aim of drawing in 1 million visitors.
In 2023, the province welcomed 800,000 international and domestic visitors, with Vang Vieng district alone welcoming over 600,000 tourists, while Feuang district also saw a peak in popularity.
With Visit Laos Year 2024 on the run, Vang Vieng district currently boasts over 150 accommodation options, providing capacity for at least 13,000 guests per day.
However, after the recent incidents, tourists and locals alike are urging authorities to not only apprehend wrongdoers responsible for crimes but also invest in road quality and implement measures to guide tourists on safe driving practices. As tourism remains one of the primary sources of revenue in Laos, the need for comprehensive measures to safeguard visitors has never been more apparent.
As news of the fee hike spreads, the travel community awaits further clarification, casting uncertainty on the success of “Visit Lao Year 20224.”
According to the notice, the price hike is set to take effect from 1 March, affecting a total of six notorious tourist spots in the province, including Kuang Si Waterfall, Luang Prabang Museum, Sae Waterfall, Xiengthong Temple, Mount Phousi, and Ting Cave. The reason behind the new adjustment is not addressed in the announcement.
While the surge in prices for local residents has seen a modest increase, for international tourists, most of the prices have doubled.
The situation has sparked controversy, polarizing social media users into two factions. A considerable number are openly criticizing the move, labeling it “counterproductive.” This group asserts that the focus should be on simplifying travel logistics rather than adding complexity. On the flip side, there is a group of users that sees the change as a pragmatic strategy, citing the country’s escalating inflation rate as a factor justifying the decision.
“It’s ironic how the government aims to attract international tourists but ends up increasing prices significantly,” one Facebook user who disagreed with the decision commented.
“Given the current high inflation rate and the depreciation of our currency, I believe the price increase is reasonable,” said another user who found the change appropriate.
The most recent inflation report released by the Lao Statistics Bureau indicates that the inflation rate in December 2023 was limited to 24.4 percent, marking a significant decline from the 40.30 percent recorded in January of the same year. Despite this considerable decrease, a number of residents remain skeptical about the accuracy of the inflation reports, as the cost of goods continues to remain high, comparable to the levels seen during the period of elevated inflation.
Apart from the price hike, the majority also raised concern about the state of the roads in some of the tourist spots, especially the ones that lead to the Kuang SI waterfall, noting that instead of focusing on increasing the entry fee, the province should also put their effort into repairing the roads that have long been deteriorated.
Last year’s Logistics Capacity Assessments (LCA) revealed that only 28 percent of the country’s roads are paved, with over 60 percent of national roads in poor or bad condition. To tackle this issue, the government aims to improve technical standards and expand the number of weighing stations countrywide. Currently, there are only 14 operational weighing stations, serving as checkpoints to monitor heavily loaded trucks and ensure they comply with weight limits.
Despite all the longstanding challenges, Luang Prabang managed to attract a total of 779,811 visitors in the first nine months of 2023 compared to the same period in the previous year, with domestic tourists accounting for 177,596 of the total figures. With its ambitious five-year goal, Luang Prabang is aiming to draw 4 million visitors by 2025. From 2021 until June 2023, around 1.1 million tourists visited the province.
Airport in Houaphanh Set for International Upgrade
Houaphanh province is set to upgrade Nong Khang airport to international status to boost tourism and economic development across the province, Governor Khampheng Saysompheng announced during a government meeting in Vientiane on 26-27 December, 2023.
The provincial government’s plan aims to facilitate direct international flights to Houaphanh, attracting foreign tourists and business investments in the region.
Currently constrained by challenging road access, the airport primarily serves small domestic flights, necessitating a three-kilometer runway extension for larger aircraft.
To accommodate the anticipated influx of tourists in 2024 as part of the Visit Laos campaign, the province plans to also improve local infrastructure, including roads, hotels, and restaurants.
Nong Khang Airport’s expansion aligns with the national development plans of the Department of Civil Aviation and the Ministry of Public Works and Transport. This move also supports Laos’ ambition to become a regional hub for land and air connections.
Built to meet International Civil Aviation Organization standards, the airport can currently handle 100,000 passengers annually, mainly on small ATR72 (Regional Transport Aircraft 72) and MA-60 aircraft with 70–100 seats. It operates domestic flights between Vientiane Capital and Houaphanh Province by Lao Airlines and Lao Skyway.
Nong Khang Airport, constructed under the Build-Operate-Transfer model, commenced operations in 2013. Funded and built by a Vietnamese company, the airport was officially handed over to provincial authorities in May 2023.
The airport represents a significant milestone in Laos-Vietnam cooperation, fulfilling long-awaited expectations for growth in Houaphanh. The airport also serves as a vital trade gateway between Laos and Vietnam, contributing substantially to cross-border trade and symbolizing the enduring friendship between the two nations.
Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2024/01/02/70552/
Social Media Users Call for Boost in Safety Measures Amidst Tourism Growth
Laos was known to be one of the safest countries in Southeast Asia, but things seem to have taken a slightly different turn in recent years. With an increasing influx of foreign visitors, a rising concern about the country’s crime rate has emerged, echoing through various voices on social media.
“The country is on its way to promote the Visit Lao Year campaign, but thieves and robbers are walking freely. I haven’t heard a single news story saying that the authorities have arrested any of these wrongdoers,” a Facebook user commented on a post about a recent robbery case.
As the country enters the Visit Lao Year Campaign 2024, a series of incidents in Vang Vieng, Vientiane Province, have prompted social media users to call for immediate attention to safety concerns.
On 2 January, a male French tourist fell victim to a robbery as he was cycling around town with his family. Two assailants on a motorbike targeted the family, making off with a bag containing USD 157.6, a camera, four passports, and two ATM cards.
Prompt reporting by the hotel where the family was staying failed to lead to the apprehension of the perpetrators, who are still at large. The tourists, highlighting the crucial need to recover their passports, have ignited an ongoing investigation into the incident.
On the following day, another incident occurred in Vang Vieng, culminating in the tragic death of a Korean national. The tourist was driving a buggy when the vehicle lost control, flipped over, and tragically resulted in a fatal accident.
Concerns flooded social media as users pointed fingers at the poorly maintained roads in the district, holding them accountable for the unfortunate event. One Facebook user added,
“Vang Vieng’s main revenue comes from tourism, but, seriously, they have to improve the quality of the roads more.”
“There has to be some guides in place that tell the tourists about the speed they should be driving vehicles on certain roads in Vang Vieng to prevent this kind of accident from happening,” wrote another user.
The timing of these events, back-to-back, in a region heavily reliant on tourism, has sparked calls for increased security measures and improved infrastructure.
While the concerns remain, Vientiane Province has set its sights on an ambitious tourism goal for 2024, with the aim of drawing in 1 million visitors.
In 2023, the province welcomed 800,000 international and domestic visitors, with Vang Vieng district alone welcoming over 600,000 tourists, while Feuang district also saw a peak in popularity.
With Visit Laos Year 2024 on the run, Vang Vieng district currently boasts over 150 accommodation options, providing capacity for at least 13,000 guests per day.
However, after the recent incidents, tourists and locals alike are urging authorities to not only apprehend wrongdoers responsible for crimes but also invest in road quality and implement measures to guide tourists on safe driving practices. As tourism remains one of the primary sources of revenue in Laos, the need for comprehensive measures to safeguard visitors has never been more apparent.
Additional reporting by Chono Lapuekou
Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2024/01/04/social-media-users-call-for-boost-in-safety-measures-amidst-tourism-growth/
Luang Prabang Tourist Entry Fee Hike Sparks Online Divide Among Users
As news of the fee hike spreads, the travel community awaits further clarification, casting uncertainty on the success of “Visit Lao Year 20224.”
According to the notice, the price hike is set to take effect from 1 March, affecting a total of six notorious tourist spots in the province, including Kuang Si Waterfall, Luang Prabang Museum, Sae Waterfall, Xiengthong Temple, Mount Phousi, and Ting Cave. The reason behind the new adjustment is not addressed in the announcement.
While the surge in prices for local residents has seen a modest increase, for international tourists, most of the prices have doubled.
The situation has sparked controversy, polarizing social media users into two factions. A considerable number are openly criticizing the move, labeling it “counterproductive.” This group asserts that the focus should be on simplifying travel logistics rather than adding complexity. On the flip side, there is a group of users that sees the change as a pragmatic strategy, citing the country’s escalating inflation rate as a factor justifying the decision.
“It’s ironic how the government aims to attract international tourists but ends up increasing prices significantly,” one Facebook user who disagreed with the decision commented.
“Given the current high inflation rate and the depreciation of our currency, I believe the price increase is reasonable,” said another user who found the change appropriate.
The most recent inflation report released by the Lao Statistics Bureau indicates that the inflation rate in December 2023 was limited to 24.4 percent, marking a significant decline from the 40.30 percent recorded in January of the same year. Despite this considerable decrease, a number of residents remain skeptical about the accuracy of the inflation reports, as the cost of goods continues to remain high, comparable to the levels seen during the period of elevated inflation.
Apart from the price hike, the majority also raised concern about the state of the roads in some of the tourist spots, especially the ones that lead to the Kuang SI waterfall, noting that instead of focusing on increasing the entry fee, the province should also put their effort into repairing the roads that have long been deteriorated.
Last year’s Logistics Capacity Assessments (LCA) revealed that only 28 percent of the country’s roads are paved, with over 60 percent of national roads in poor or bad condition. To tackle this issue, the government aims to improve technical standards and expand the number of weighing stations countrywide. Currently, there are only 14 operational weighing stations, serving as checkpoints to monitor heavily loaded trucks and ensure they comply with weight limits.
Despite all the longstanding challenges, Luang Prabang managed to attract a total of 779,811 visitors in the first nine months of 2023 compared to the same period in the previous year, with domestic tourists accounting for 177,596 of the total figures. With its ambitious five-year goal, Luang Prabang is aiming to draw 4 million visitors by 2025. From 2021 until June 2023, around 1.1 million tourists visited the province.
Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2024/01/15/concerns-rise-as-luang-prabang-tourism-faces-entry-fee-surge/