As Cambodia and India move closer to finalizing a bilateral free trade agreement, residents of both nations can anticipate the introduction of direct flight routes by early next year.
This development aligns with the remarkable growth in diplomatic relations between the two countries in recent times, as highlighted by the Cambodian Ambassador to India, Kuong Koy. He also expressed optimism that direct flights would commence in early 2024.
When this plan becomes a reality, Cambodia stands to benefit significantly, with increased tourism, expanded trade opportunities, and heightened investment prospects, akin to the positive outcomes seen with direct flights between India and other ASEAN member nations.
Given India’s status as a nation with over 1 billion people, countries worldwide, especially ASEAN member states, have actively been seeking a share of India’s lucrative tourism market.
According to Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports, nearly 990,000 Indians visited Thailand in 2022, second only to Malaysia. Initial data for the first five months of 2023 places India among the top sources of visitors to Thailand, with more than 600,000 Indian tourists arriving in Thailand up to May. The TAT anticipates welcoming 2 million Indian visitors this year.
“India has always been and remains a significant and primary tourism market for Thailand,” said Yuthasak Supasorn, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).
However, Laos has been unable to tap into the surge of Indian tourists, primarily due to the absence of a direct flight route between Laos and India at present.
https://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Cambodia.jpg6271200Soutsada Xaphouvonghttps://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Lao-Simply-Beautiful-.webpSoutsada Xaphouvong2023-09-08 07:30:002023-09-05 13:14:03Cambodia to Launch Flight Routes to India in Early 2024
Laos is currently making comprehensive preparations to host the 27th ASEAN Tourism Ministers’ Meeting and the 42nd ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) in Vientiane between 22 and 27 January 2024.
Mr. Khom Douangchantha, Director General of the Tourism Marketing Department, revealed recently that the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism (MICT) has established a 13-member preparatory committee, which will be responsible for a host of duties, including venue selection and preparing invitation cards.
For venue selection, the committee is currently focusing on six hotels that have been designated as official venue partners for the event. The Landmark Hotel will be the venue for the official meeting, while the 20 other hotels will accommodate delegates attending the meetings and exhibitions.
Meanwhile, the committee has completed drafting an invitation card and is now coordinating with the ASEAN Secretariat to review the list of tourism ministers and other invitees, such as ASEAN plus 3 tourism ministers, delegates from ASEAN-India, ASEAN-Russia, and other international organizations.
Alongside, Mr. Khom said that the committee is working on a tourism program for delegates to enjoy during their time in Vientiane Capital. This is being arranged in coordination with the Department of Tourism Business Management, and the Department of Tourism in Vientiane Capital, which are part of the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism.
While the security arrangements are still being finalized, the committee is also working with travel companies to create itineraries for delegates so that they can travel to other provinces in Laos as well. These tours will be available for purchase at designated hotels, where delegates can easily access information and book their trips.
Additionally, the transport arrangements are being made collaboratively with tour operators, and they will include government-provided vehicles and for-rent vehicles.
Mr. Khom said that the ASEAN Tourism Ministers’ Meeting and the ATF are important events that will promote tourism in Laos and the ASEAN region. The Lao government is committed to making the event memorable and successful for all participants.
It is estimated that more than 800–1,000 people will attend the meeting. The committee is working on the budget allocation for the meeting and will soon submit it to the government for approval.
Preparations are also in full swing for Visit Laos Year 2024, during which the country is projected to welcome more than 2.7 million tourists to stimulate post-pandemic economic growth.
VietJet, a low-cost airline from Vietnam, is planning to launch direct flights between Laos and Vietnam in the near future.
While the airline has not made an official announcement yet, a recent post on AeroLaos, Laos’ leading aviation-focused Facebook page, suggests that this move is in the works.
VietJet operates A320 and A321 aircraft, capable of carrying 180 to 230 passengers to various international destinations, including China, Taiwan, Singapore, and other Asian countries. The airline currently operates up to 400 flights daily.
Although the specific route has not been disclosed, a source close to VietJet says the initial flight route will be between Vientiane Capital, Laos, and Ho Chi Minh City, and Hanoi in Vietnam, as they are renowned as top travel destinations in Asia.
The flight route is set to start by the fourth quarter of this year, or the start of next year, and is to be followed by flights between Laos and Da Nang and Phu Quoc in Vietnam.
Notably, Laos received more than 398,000 visitors from Vietnam in the first half of 2023, which suggests that VietJet’s decision to offer affordable air travel between the two countries is likely to be well-received. This move also aligns with the airline’s strategy to tap into Laos’ growing ambition to develop its tourism industry.
Mr. Ounthuang Khaophan, the Deputy Minister of Information, Culture, and Tourism, has declared 2024 as the “Year of Tourism” for Laos, with the goal of attracting over 2.7 million visitors in the coming year. To achieve this, the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism is working in collaboration with central and local authorities to plan a diverse range of activities at both regional and national levels.
As the Lao tourism industry gradually recovers from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, international airlines are actively seeking opportunities to enter this emerging market. For instance, Thai Airways resumed direct flights between Vientiane Capital, Laos, and Bangkok, Thailand, on August 15, following the route’s cancellation in December 2021. The airline replaced the previously operated Thai Smile Airways route with larger A320 aircraft from Thai Airways.
https://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/VJ-1.jpg6271200Soutsada Xaphouvonghttps://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Lao-Simply-Beautiful-.webpSoutsada Xaphouvong2023-09-06 08:00:002023-09-05 11:34:02VietJet to Start Direct Flights Between Laos and Vietnam
Cambodia to Launch Flight Routes to India in Early 2024
As Cambodia and India move closer to finalizing a bilateral free trade agreement, residents of both nations can anticipate the introduction of direct flight routes by early next year.
This development aligns with the remarkable growth in diplomatic relations between the two countries in recent times, as highlighted by the Cambodian Ambassador to India, Kuong Koy. He also expressed optimism that direct flights would commence in early 2024.
When this plan becomes a reality, Cambodia stands to benefit significantly, with increased tourism, expanded trade opportunities, and heightened investment prospects, akin to the positive outcomes seen with direct flights between India and other ASEAN member nations.
Given India’s status as a nation with over 1 billion people, countries worldwide, especially ASEAN member states, have actively been seeking a share of India’s lucrative tourism market.
According to Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports, nearly 990,000 Indians visited Thailand in 2022, second only to Malaysia. Initial data for the first five months of 2023 places India among the top sources of visitors to Thailand, with more than 600,000 Indian tourists arriving in Thailand up to May. The TAT anticipates welcoming 2 million Indian visitors this year.
“India has always been and remains a significant and primary tourism market for Thailand,” said Yuthasak Supasorn, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).
Chai Eamsiri, CEO of Thai Airways International, also emphasized the importance of the flag carrier’s expansion into the Indian market, given India’s vast population and strong cultural and economic ties with Thailand.
After launching direct flight routes to India in June 2022, Vietnam also reported an uptick in tourist numbers in the country.
According to India’s Ministry of Tourism, in 2022, 21,096,217 Indian nationals traveled abroad, as countries gradually reopened their borders to tourists after the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, Laos has been unable to tap into the surge of Indian tourists, primarily due to the absence of a direct flight route between Laos and India at present.
source: https://laotiantimes.com/2023/08/29/cambodia-to-launch-early-flight-routes-to-india-in-2024/
Laos Gears Up to Host ASEAN Tourism Ministers’ Meeting & Tourism Forum 2024
Laos is currently making comprehensive preparations to host the 27th ASEAN Tourism Ministers’ Meeting and the 42nd ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) in Vientiane between 22 and 27 January 2024.
Mr. Khom Douangchantha, Director General of the Tourism Marketing Department, revealed recently that the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism (MICT) has established a 13-member preparatory committee, which will be responsible for a host of duties, including venue selection and preparing invitation cards.
For venue selection, the committee is currently focusing on six hotels that have been designated as official venue partners for the event. The Landmark Hotel will be the venue for the official meeting, while the 20 other hotels will accommodate delegates attending the meetings and exhibitions.
Meanwhile, the committee has completed drafting an invitation card and is now coordinating with the ASEAN Secretariat to review the list of tourism ministers and other invitees, such as ASEAN plus 3 tourism ministers, delegates from ASEAN-India, ASEAN-Russia, and other international organizations.
Alongside, Mr. Khom said that the committee is working on a tourism program for delegates to enjoy during their time in Vientiane Capital. This is being arranged in coordination with the Department of Tourism Business Management, and the Department of Tourism in Vientiane Capital, which are part of the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism.
While the security arrangements are still being finalized, the committee is also working with travel companies to create itineraries for delegates so that they can travel to other provinces in Laos as well. These tours will be available for purchase at designated hotels, where delegates can easily access information and book their trips.
Additionally, the transport arrangements are being made collaboratively with tour operators, and they will include government-provided vehicles and for-rent vehicles.
Mr. Khom said that the ASEAN Tourism Ministers’ Meeting and the ATF are important events that will promote tourism in Laos and the ASEAN region. The Lao government is committed to making the event memorable and successful for all participants.
It is estimated that more than 800–1,000 people will attend the meeting. The committee is working on the budget allocation for the meeting and will soon submit it to the government for approval.
Preparations are also in full swing for Visit Laos Year 2024, during which the country is projected to welcome more than 2.7 million tourists to stimulate post-pandemic economic growth.
source: https://laotiantimes.com/2023/08/28/laos-gears-up-to-host-asean-tourism-ministers-meeting-tourism-forum-2024/
VietJet to Start Direct Flights Between Laos and Vietnam
VietJet, a low-cost airline from Vietnam, is planning to launch direct flights between Laos and Vietnam in the near future.
While the airline has not made an official announcement yet, a recent post on AeroLaos, Laos’ leading aviation-focused Facebook page, suggests that this move is in the works.
VietJet operates A320 and A321 aircraft, capable of carrying 180 to 230 passengers to various international destinations, including China, Taiwan, Singapore, and other Asian countries. The airline currently operates up to 400 flights daily.
Although the specific route has not been disclosed, a source close to VietJet says the initial flight route will be between Vientiane Capital, Laos, and Ho Chi Minh City, and Hanoi in Vietnam, as they are renowned as top travel destinations in Asia.
The flight route is set to start by the fourth quarter of this year, or the start of next year, and is to be followed by flights between Laos and Da Nang and Phu Quoc in Vietnam.
Notably, Laos received more than 398,000 visitors from Vietnam in the first half of 2023, which suggests that VietJet’s decision to offer affordable air travel between the two countries is likely to be well-received. This move also aligns with the airline’s strategy to tap into Laos’ growing ambition to develop its tourism industry.
Mr. Ounthuang Khaophan, the Deputy Minister of Information, Culture, and Tourism, has declared 2024 as the “Year of Tourism” for Laos, with the goal of attracting over 2.7 million visitors in the coming year. To achieve this, the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism is working in collaboration with central and local authorities to plan a diverse range of activities at both regional and national levels.
As the Lao tourism industry gradually recovers from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, international airlines are actively seeking opportunities to enter this emerging market. For instance, Thai Airways resumed direct flights between Vientiane Capital, Laos, and Bangkok, Thailand, on August 15, following the route’s cancellation in December 2021. The airline replaced the previously operated Thai Smile Airways route with larger A320 aircraft from Thai Airways.
source: https://laotiantimes.com/2023/08/25/vietjet-to-start-direct-flights-between-laos-and-vietnam/