The app, catering to tourists without a bank account in Laos, was officially launched in late January by BCEL’s Managing Director, Ms. Saysamone Chanthachack, alongside key officials and stakeholders.
Designed with foreign visitors in mind, EZyKip, facilitates cash withdrawals from over 400 BCEL ATMs nationwide with a 0% fee through QR scans, mitigating the risks associated with carrying physical cash. Users can easily exchange and transfer remaining balances back to their bank cards, ensuring a secure and hassle-free payment ecosystem throughout their travel in Laos.
Additionally, the app enables payments at BCEL’s OnePay agencies and Lao QR member stores, boasting lower fees compared to traditional card readers.
BCEL has ambitious plans to expand EZyKip’s functionality to include various card top-ups such as UnionPay, Visa, Mastercard, JCB, AMEX, Alipay, and WeChat Pay. This initiative aligns with Laos’ hosting of the ASEAN Tourism Forum and its chairmanship of the bloc throughout 2024, aiming to enhance the overall experience of foreign tourists and simplify financial transactions during their visit to Laos.
https://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/422564862_10159853533808030_8526799349017715417_n.jpg825843Sylivanla Vongphachanhhttps://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Lao-Simply-Beautiful-.webpSylivanla Vongphachanh2024-02-16 03:25:002024-02-07 11:27:04BCEL Launches New Payment App for Tourists During Visit Laos Year 2024
Approved at the 27th ASEAN Tourism Forum in Vientiane from 25-26 January, the scheme focuses on enhancing land connectivity to spur economic growth across the countries. Thai Tourism Minister Sudawan Wangsuphakitkosol emphasized the project’s goal of promoting seamless travel across borders, acknowledging that the integration of border traffic rules and infrastructure details would be discussed in upcoming meetings.
As part of the initiative to enhance cross-border travel convenience, neighboring countries such as Thailand have already submitted two overland routes from Thailand to Vietnam, one crossing through Laos and the other crossing through Cambodia.
The initiative was pushed forward by Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, who brought to the diplomatic table the “Seamless ASEAN” vision during the World Economic Forum on 17 January, envisioning Southeast Asian nations as one tourist destination.
The plan aims for a comprehensive agreement, similar to Europe’s Schengen Agreement, enabling free movement for investors and tourists across the region.
The Thai prime minister expressed optimism about achieving seamless tourism across Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam within six months, emphasizing the proximity to the goal. Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh also supported the initiative, emphasizing the potential for a unified tourist destination.
The one tourism destination proposal originated from discussions between Thai and Vietnamese leaders in December 2023 at a summit in Tokyo.
Commencing 15 March, Savannakhet-Bangkok flights will operate Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The new link between Laos and Thailand will be shortly followed by a new Vientiane-Phnom Penh route, starting 19 March with three flights a week on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Flights will also transition between Laos and Vietnam, with the Vientiane-Danang route beginning flights from 4 April, operating two flights a week.
The airline already has codeshare agreements with Thai Airways and Vietnam Airlines to extend service across key routes including Vientiane-Bangkok, Vientiane-Hanoi, Vientiane-Phnom Penh, Luang Prabang-Hanoi, and Luang Prabang-Siem Reap.
Beyond its regional partnerships, Laos sets its sights on broader tourism expansion, eyeing markets like Russia. On October 29, 2023, Ural Airlines, headquartered in Russia, declared the relaunch of flights from Vladivostok to Vientiane Capital, with the journey spanning approximately six hours and 20 minutes.
In a bid to enhance connectivity further, talks have surfaced regarding a potential route linking Luang Prabang, Laos, and Bali, Indonesia. During discussions held on 25 January between Lao Minister of Information, Culture, and Tourism and Indonesian counterpart Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno, the proposed direct link aims to draw European and Australian tourists to Laos via Bali, while Indonesia stands to gain from increased Chinese tourist traffic in Laos.
As Laos continues to promote its Visit Laos 2024 tourism campaign to attract international and regional tourists, new initiatives and flight routes continue to increase to facilitate convenience.
BCEL Launches New Payment App for Tourists During Visit Laos Year 2024
The app, catering to tourists without a bank account in Laos, was officially launched in late January by BCEL’s Managing Director, Ms. Saysamone Chanthachack, alongside key officials and stakeholders.
Designed with foreign visitors in mind, EZyKip, facilitates cash withdrawals from over 400 BCEL ATMs nationwide with a 0% fee through QR scans, mitigating the risks associated with carrying physical cash. Users can easily exchange and transfer remaining balances back to their bank cards, ensuring a secure and hassle-free payment ecosystem throughout their travel in Laos.
Additionally, the app enables payments at BCEL’s OnePay agencies and Lao QR member stores, boasting lower fees compared to traditional card readers.
BCEL has ambitious plans to expand EZyKip’s functionality to include various card top-ups such as UnionPay, Visa, Mastercard, JCB, AMEX, Alipay, and WeChat Pay. This initiative aligns with Laos’ hosting of the ASEAN Tourism Forum and its chairmanship of the bloc throughout 2024, aiming to enhance the overall experience of foreign tourists and simplify financial transactions during their visit to Laos.
Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2024/02/02/bcel-launches-new-payment-app-for-tourists-during-visit-laos-year-2024/
‘ASEAN Drive Tourism Initiative’ Gets Nod from Five Nations
Approved at the 27th ASEAN Tourism Forum in Vientiane from 25-26 January, the scheme focuses on enhancing land connectivity to spur economic growth across the countries.
Thai Tourism Minister Sudawan Wangsuphakitkosol emphasized the project’s goal of promoting seamless travel across borders, acknowledging that the integration of border traffic rules and infrastructure details would be discussed in upcoming meetings.
As part of the initiative to enhance cross-border travel convenience, neighboring countries such as Thailand have already submitted two overland routes from Thailand to Vietnam, one crossing through Laos and the other crossing through Cambodia.
The initiative was pushed forward by Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, who brought to the diplomatic table the “Seamless ASEAN” vision during the World Economic Forum on 17 January, envisioning Southeast Asian nations as one tourist destination.
The plan aims for a comprehensive agreement, similar to Europe’s Schengen Agreement, enabling free movement for investors and tourists across the region.
The Thai prime minister expressed optimism about achieving seamless tourism across Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam within six months, emphasizing the proximity to the goal. Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh also supported the initiative, emphasizing the potential for a unified tourist destination.
The one tourism destination proposal originated from discussions between Thai and Vietnamese leaders in December 2023 at a summit in Tokyo.
Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2024/02/01/asean-drive-tourism-initiative-gets-nod-from-five-nations/
Lao Airlines Introduces New Regional Routes
Commencing 15 March, Savannakhet-Bangkok flights will operate Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The new link between Laos and Thailand will be shortly followed by a new Vientiane-Phnom Penh route, starting 19 March with three flights a week on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Flights will also transition between Laos and Vietnam, with the Vientiane-Danang route beginning flights from 4 April, operating two flights a week.
The airline already has codeshare agreements with Thai Airways and Vietnam Airlines to extend service across key routes including Vientiane-Bangkok, Vientiane-Hanoi, Vientiane-Phnom Penh, Luang Prabang-Hanoi, and Luang Prabang-Siem Reap.
Beyond its regional partnerships, Laos sets its sights on broader tourism expansion, eyeing markets like Russia. On October 29, 2023, Ural Airlines, headquartered in Russia, declared the relaunch of flights from Vladivostok to Vientiane Capital, with the journey spanning approximately six hours and 20 minutes.
In a bid to enhance connectivity further, talks have surfaced regarding a potential route linking Luang Prabang, Laos, and Bali, Indonesia. During discussions held on 25 January between Lao Minister of Information, Culture, and Tourism and Indonesian counterpart Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno, the proposed direct link aims to draw European and Australian tourists to Laos via Bali, while Indonesia stands to gain from increased Chinese tourist traffic in Laos.
As Laos continues to promote its Visit Laos 2024 tourism campaign to attract international and regional tourists, new initiatives and flight routes continue to increase to facilitate convenience.
Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2024/01/31/lao-airlines-introduces-new-regional-routes/