Lao Airlines has released its long-awaited winter schedule, bringing back major routes.

Lao airlines has announced on social media that it will be bringing back certain flight routes and increasing the number of certain routes which were reduced or discontinued during the pandemic.

A tourism insider posted the Lao Airlines flight schedule for the upcoming season to social media, revealing that certain popular flights–including services to Luang Prabang, Siem Reap, and Pakse–will return starting 1 November of this year.

The addition of these flights has been long awaited by Lao tourism professionals whose industry has been hit hard by a lack of customers.

A tourism professional who spoke to The Laotian Times before the schedule release identified a lack of connecting flights as a serious hindrance to the recovery of the Lao tourism industry, especially because tourists may stay in other destinations due to a lack of connecting flights.

“Important tourist routes are not yet operating,” he said, “especially Luang Prabang to Hanoi, Chiangmai, Siem Reap, and Pakse. If they can at least tell us when they are planning to restart the popular tourist routes we can open the booking system so we can start filling seats and selling tours using them. We can’t sell something that isn’t there.”

Now that these flights have been announced, tours can be planned with more certainty, a benefit to both the tourism industry and the Lao economy as a whole.

While fewer than 200 South Korean tourists entered Laos in the first half of 2022, Lao Airlines increasing its Incheon route to five flights per week will likely draw more South Korean visitors. 

Lao Airlines, which has operated at a loss for several years, is also set to be reformed under a new plan to overhaul state enterprises.

Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2022/08/25/lao-airlines-reinstates-major-routes-in-new-winter-schedule/

Tmark Resort in Vang Vieng became the first resort in Vang Vieng to receive a five-star rating from the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism on August 5.

Tmark resort Vang Vieng is situated in a quiet and scenic location near downtown Vang Vieng along the Nam Song River. Its position fully showcases the iconic green mountains across the river, displaying the sublime beauty of Vang Vieng.

The resort features a 24-hour dining restaurant, a spacious swimming pool, a pool bar, a fitness center, a spa, a meeting room, and access to free wi-fi connection throughout the resort.

The five-star resort offers a range of services to welcome international guests such as five spoken languages, including English, Tagalog (Filipino), Korean and Thai.

The award ceremony was held under the authority of Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, Ms. Syphonepai Sitthixay, and the Mayor of Vang Vieng, Mr. Bounchanh Malavong, as well as the shareholders, Mr. Kim Ki Chang and Mr. Chong Nakhonesak as well as Mr. Bo Ackalith Xayyasone.

Ms. Syphonepai Sitthixay, Deputy Director General of Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, congratulated Tmark Resort Vang Vieng on receiving the designation as a five-star hotel.

The resort, the Deputy Director General said, is certified by Safe and Clean standard (LaoSafe), ensuring its hygienic safety.

On this occasion, Mr. Francis Fernandes, General Director of Tmark Resort Vang Vieng, thanked the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism and provincial officials for their attendance at the awarding of the first five-star hotel in Vang Vieng.

The resort’s new five-star designation is a hopeful sign for Lao tourism, which is still working to bounce back following the country’s re-opening.

Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2022/08/09/tmark-resort-vang-vieng-awarded-five-stars/

With international borders recently reopened, high-volume domestic destinations such as Vang Vieng, which received an influx of domestic tourists during the pandemic, have begun to struggle.

Vang Vieng District Governor, Mr. Bounchan Malavong, said during an interview with Lao National Radio that despite an increase in visitors from South Korea and Thailand, the overall number of tourists arriving in Vang Vieng has fallen.

While in 2020, the Vientiane Province received some 261,000 visitors according to the 2020 Statistical Report on Tourism in Laos released by the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism (MICT), the numbers could have increased in 2021.

In February this year, provincial authorities said that more than 3,000 domestic tourists were recorded visiting Vang Vieng every week following the relaxation of Covid measures.

And getting to Vang Vieng is now easier than ever, with the launch of the Laos-China Railway and the Vang Vieng Expressway providing greater convenience for those traveling to the tourist town. 

However, Governor Bounchan says that economic problems and chronic fuel shortages have meant fewer domestic tourists have been making the trip to Vang Vieng in recent weeks.

At the same time, domestic tourists have turned to international destinations after spending almost three years locked in Laos. 

“My family visited Vang Vieng several times over the last two years while our country was closed.  Now I’d like to see something new,” one reader told the Laotian Times.

Reports from authorities at the Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge recorded 1,812 people entering Thailand on the second day of border relaxation.

“I couldn’t wait to get back to the big shopping mall at Udon Thani,” said another Vientiane resident. 

“It is nice to make a family trip to Thailand where there is a greater variety of things to see and do.  We can also fill up on fuel while we are there,” he noted.

Pakin Tiabkam, head of customs control at Nong Khai Customs House, told Thai media that some 30,000 foreigners crossed the Nong Khai border checkpoint into Thailand from 9-31 May. 

Following the reopening of borders and resumption of flights, Laotians can now also access a number of regional cities from Vientiane Capital and Luang Prabang by air, including destinations such as Bangkok, Seoul, Ho Chi Minh City, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. 

“Our family took our first trip to Phuket recently in over two years,” one expatriate told the Laotian Times in a phone interview.

“Vang Vieng is always a nice getaway but my children were thrilled to see the ocean again,” she said.

Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2022/06/08/domestic-tourists-in-laos-lured-away-by-renewed-international-travel/

Xing Xou Island has been announced as a new cultural heritage site in Vientiane Capital. 

Vientiane Mai reports that the Department of Information, Culture, and Tourism, as well as officials in Xing Xou Village, have begun preparations for the island to become a new tourism destination.

Don Xing Xou, also known as Xing Xou Island, is a little-known island community located in the middle of the Mekong River, in Sikhottabong District. 

The island is accessible by boat from Khaoliao Village in Sikhottabong District.

For LAK 20,000, a local vehicle will take visitors around the island, through a “bamboo tunnel,” among giant seasonal flowers, to observe fruit plantations and to spot various noteworthy avian species. 

The island has its own Buddhist temple, or wat, as well as some ancient artifacts, drawing many local people who cross the river to make merit on the island, which is believed to be a sacred place.

While a much older temple was believed to have been constructed at the site during the Xayfong Era, the newer sections were added in 2011. Prior to this, artifacts of gold, silver, and stone were moved from the site to be displayed and preserved at the Haw Phra Kaew Museum in Vientiane Capital.

Boats to and from the island depart daily from early morning until 5 pm.

Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2022/05/23/vientiane-to-promote-little-known-xing-xou-island-as-new-tourism-site/

Tourism “green zones” in Vientiane Capital, Vientiane Province, and Luang Prabang Province have reached 99.67 percent vaccination rates, with residents displaying high levels of knowledge about COVID-19 prevention measures, according to findings from a survey by the Ministry of Health and UNICEF.

Deputy Minister of Health, Dr. Sanong Thongsana, and UNICEF Representative to Laos, Dr. Pia Rebello Britto, co-chaired a briefing for the media yesterday on the results of a survey on COVID-19 vaccination coverage in designated tourism green zones, which include Vientiane Capital, Vientiane Province, and Luang Prabang Province.

The survey, which was conducted between January and March 2022, reveals that vaccination coverage in so-called “green travel zones” is high, reaching a 99.67 percent coverage rate.

Participants of the survey also displayed sufficient preventive knowledge of COVID-19, with the common preventive practices against COVID-19 mentioned including avoiding shaking hands (85 percent), wearing a mask (58.9 percent), washing hands more often (18.2 percent), and avoiding alcohol consumption (16.5 percent).

The survey also reveals the key sources of information on COVID-19 for the Lao people, with the majority (85 percent) of participants saying that they receive this information primarily through Facebook; 78.7 percent receive COVID-19 messages from their workplace, and 41.3 percent get their news from village loudspeakers.

“Laos’ economic recovery is dependent on policies that support businesses and households to adapt to the new normal. To achieve this, COVID-19 vaccination coverage must be achieved at 100 percent. Today’s presentation of the survey results suggests that we are on the right track in reaching our objective and the path towards the recovery and reopening of the country,” stated Deputy Minister Sanong.

The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly affected social and economic life in Laos and has brought the country’s tourism sector to a near-complete standstill after decades of extraordinary growth.

Globally, international tourist arrivals fell to levels not seen since 1990.

The importance of tourism in Laos goes beyond the country’s economy. The sector is also a key pillar of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with a unique ability to contribute to most – if not all – of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, including providing opportunities for children, youth, women, and communities, and helping preserve and promote natural and cultural heritage.

Reopening the country will help revive the tourism sector and hospitality industry as a source of income for Laos. However, to achieve this, maximum levels of COVID-19 vaccination services coverage must be achieved and preventive measures, especially in green travel zones, must be advocated.

“The survey results demonstrate the success of the Vaccinate Laos campaign and confirms that the government’s strategies and investments are working. Furthermore, this success would not have been possible without the support of development partners, especially through their contribution of vaccines via the COVAX Facility and support on the communication campaign on vaccination in all 18 provinces of Lao PDR,” stated UNICEF Representative, Dr. Pia Rebello Britto.

“Our meeting today further coincides with World Immunization Week, which is celebrated in the last week of every April and is aimed at highlighting the life-saving power of vaccines. Thus, I would like to take this opportunity to remind us not only of the importance COVID-19 vaccination but also of childhood immunization in saving lives. We must ensure that our efforts in vaccinating the population against COVID-19 should not come at the expense of routine childhood immunization,” she added.

The government of Laos reopened the country to vaccinated tourists under its new “Lao Travel Green Zone” plan in January.

However, entry restrictions including pre-departure tests, on-arrival tests, and quarantine for travelers have meant few tourists have arrived under the scheme.

After agreeing in principle to a full reopening, the Government of Laos is expected to announce the easing of restrictions for arrivals at the end of the month or in early June.

Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2022/04/29/health-ministry-and-unicef-survey-finds-nearly-100-percent-vaccination-in-tourism-zones/