A Korean school group has become the first group of tourists to arrive in Laos since the country’s reopening this year.
Vientiane Times reports that the group of 17 students and six teachers from Ipo High School in Seoul, Korea, arrived at Wattay International Airport on Monday.
The group will be undertaking cultural exchange activities and playing golf with students and staff from Faseekham Secondary School in Vientiane’s Naxaithong District.
The school’s travel arrangements were organized by Family Tour Co Ltd.
A representative of Ipo School, Ms. Sin Su Lee, said in an interview with VTE 9 Channel that “our visit is to promote cultural exchanges and practice golf from 10 January to 20 February. We can travel in Laos as part of the Green Zone Travel Plan scheme organized by the Government of Laos.”
The tour group will stay at Booyoung Hotel near the SEA Games golf course.
The students and teachers from Ipo High School’s golf department will be able to visit Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang as part of their trip as “green zones” under the Green Zone Travel Plan.
“The main purpose of the trip is for our students to practice golf,” said Ms. Sin Su Lee, “however, our group is also excited about visiting beautiful natural sites, as well as learning about the history and culture of Laos,” she said.
The group will stay at the Booyoung Lao Hotel which is located near the SEA Games Golf Club in Xaythany District.
Under the scheme, tourists are authorized to travel within two zones, namely Green Travel Zones and Green Travel Trails, which will be rolled out in three phases.
The Lao Food Festival 2022 will be held in Vientiane Capital at the end of this month to promote the food and culture of Laos.
The festival will be held under “New Normal” conditions, according to a report by Lao Economic Daily, with the open-air event taking place at Chao Anou Park from 25 to 29 January.
President of the Lao Businesswomen’s Association, Mrs. Chanthachone Vongsay, said on Wednesday that the Lao Food Festival has been scaled-down this year, featuring only around 120 stalls.
“The festival will see stalls offering traditional Lao cuisine, handicrafts, agricultural products and souvenirs, as well as international food prepared by various embassies in Laos,” said Mrs. Chanthachone.
President of the Lao Businesswomen’s Association, Mrs. Chanthachone Vongsay (Update Magazine)
The Lao Food Festival provides a platform for aspiring young businesswomen to exhibit their products to the wider public, as well as to promote and preserve traditional Lao cuisine.
Mrs. Chanthachone said that the 16th Lao Food Festival will also be an occasion to welcome foreign visitors arriving in Laos under the Laos Travel Green Zone scheme.
To ensure compliance with Covid-19 prevention and control measures, stalls, chairs, and tables will be separated to ensure social distancing.
A vendor makes food during Lao Food Festival 2020 in Vientiane (Xinhua).
At the same time, medical personnel will be on-site to check the temperature of visitors before entering the event, as well as provide free face masks and hand gel, while attendees and vendors will be required to be fully vaccinated.
The event will commence with an opening ceremony at 8 am on 25 January.
https://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Laos-Larb-1.jpeg12001920Sylivanla Vongphachanhhttps://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Lao-Simply-Beautiful-.webpSylivanla Vongphachanh2022-01-11 21:07:192022-01-11 21:08:13Lao Food Festival to Promote Food and Culture of Laos in Vientiane Capital
More than two thousand domestic tourists visited Vang Vieng District in Vientiane Province throughout December 2021.
Following the reopening of attractions in Vang Vieng late last year, the number of visitors reached over 2000 in December, Socio-Economic Daily reports.
Head of the Vang Vieng District Office of Information, Culture, and Tourism, Mr. Atthayasay Manivanh, says some 2,664 tourists visited Vang Vieng in December 2021.
He said that Vang Vieng had seen great hardship after facing closure for a year as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, with the tourism sector hit hardest.
However, a large number of tourist sites across Vang Vieng District have since reopened, including caves, waterfalls, and viewpoints.
“With tourism services reopening, authorities and business operators in Vang Vieng are taking strict measures to prevent and control the spread of Covid-19,” Mr. Atthayasay added.
Domestic tourists flock to Vang Vieng during the New Year holiday (Photo: Vientiane Province Update).
Meanwhile, Deputy District Governor of Vang Vieng, Mr. Kwian Thong Theptha, told the media that authorities in Vang Vieng are speeding up economic recovery by providing low-interest loans to businesses.
Owner of Cliff View Riverside Resort & Restaurant, Ms. Kai, said in an interview that she witnessed a large influx of domestic tourists over the last month that gave a significant boost to local businesses.
She said that some restaurants were caught by surprise, running out of supplies and being unable to serve customers.
“It is wonderful that Vang Vieng is reopening to tourists since this will assist the local economy and provide employment for individuals who lost their jobs during the Covid outbreak,” Ms. Kai added.
Vang Vieng has been listed as a “Green Zone” under the country’s Green Zone Travel reopening scheme, along with Vientiane Capital and Luang Prabang.
Under the plan, international tourists traveling with group tours may visit areas designated as green zones, which have populations that are 70-80 percent vaccinated against Covid-19, with 90-95 percent of service providers immunized.
Traveling in Green Travel Zone areas would see tourists staying at hotels certified under the LaoSafe program, while tourists traveling outside green zones to other provinces could travel to areas approved as “Green Trail Zone” locations.
Vang Vieng is now accessible via the Vientiane to Vang Vieng Expressway, as well as along the Laos-China Railway.
Laos has announced that tourists from an additional 14 countries will be permitted to enter the country under its Travel Green Zone Plan.
The Consular Affairs Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has approved Brunei, Indonesia, the Philippines, Russia, Norway, Switzerland, Sweden, Finland, Israel, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Poland, Denmark, and Belgium for permission to enter Laos under the new travel scheme.
The 14 nations have been added to the initial list of 17 countries officially announced two weeks ago.
The initial list includes China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, France, United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, United States, Canada, and Australia.
Under the reopening scheme, tourists will be authorized to travel within two zones, namely Green Travel Zones and Green Travel Trails, which will be rolled out in three phases.
During Phase One, from 1 January to 30 March 2022, tourists may visit Vientiane Capital, Luang Prabang Province, and Vang Vieng District in Vientiane Province.
Meanwhile, five provinces will be authorized for Green Travel Trails, including Oudomxay, Xayaboury, Xieng Khouang, Khammouane, and Champasack.
During Phase Two, the Green Travel Zones will consist of nine provinces: Vientiane Capital, Vientiane Province, Luang Prabang, Oudomxay, Xayaboury, Xieng Khouang, Khammouane, Savannakhet, and Champasack.
Four provinces will be authorized for Green Travel Trails during Phase Two, including Houay Xay District in Bokeo Province, Luang Namtha Province, Sekong Province, and Salavanh Province.
Laos has recorded over 111,000 cases of Covid-19 since the pandemic began, with the government approving a controlled reopening of its borders in 2022 to reduce the spread of Covid-19 in the country.
https://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Laos-Updates-List-of-Countries-Permitted-to-Enter-under-Green-Travel-Zone-Plan-696x364-1.jpg364696Subsin Sinuvonghttps://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Lao-Simply-Beautiful-.webpSubsin Sinuvong2022-01-05 12:20:072022-02-18 00:01:04Laos Updates List of Countries Permitted to Enter Under Travel Green Zone Plan
The government of Laos has begun preparations for reopening the country to vaccinated tourists under its new Lao Travel Green Zone plan.
The new plan for reopening will see Vientiane Capital, Vang Vieng, and Luang Prabang designated as “green zones” to ensure the safety of travelers and service providers, according toVientiane Times.
Authorities and tourism sector stakeholders discussed the plan at the Public and Private Sector Consultation Meeting on Country Reopening Plan Preparation held on Tuesday, led by the country’s new Minister of Information, Culture, and Tourism Mrs. Suanesavanh Vingaket.
Under the plan, areas designated as green zones must have a population of 70-80 percent vaccinated, with 90-95 percent of service providers immunized, according to the Lao Travel Green Zone strategy.
Conditions for vaccinated arrivals are to include a valid certificate of entry, a vaccination certificate valid at least two weeks prior to arrival, and a negative PCR test completed 72 hours prior to departing for Laos.
Tourists at Kuang Si Waterfall in Luang Prabang.
Vientiane Times reports that tourists would be transported to hotels via vehicles approved under the LaoSafe certification program while they await the result of a PCR test which would be available within 24 hours.
A positive test result would result in three days of isolation before another test would be undertaken.
Meanwhile, a new Contact Tracing Application is to be available to tourists called LaoStaySafe, which would provide information updates and for tourists in English while monitoring their movements.
Travel in green zone approved areas would see tourists staying at hotels approved under the LaoSafe program, while tourists traveling outside green zones to other provinces would be required to use transportation and book hotels that have been certified under the LaoSafe program.
The LaoSafe program is a health and hygiene program for the tourism and hospitality sector approved by the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism (MICT), and that will be piloted in Vientiane Capital before expanding to other provinces.
It comprises a series of health and hygiene standards for different subsectors of the tourism and hospitality industry, including accommodation providers, food and beverage outlets, airlines, tourist attractions, tour guides, and drivers.
https://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Tourism-in-Laos.jpeg6271200Sylivanla Vongphachanhhttps://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Lao-Simply-Beautiful-.webpSylivanla Vongphachanh2021-12-29 10:36:462021-12-29 10:40:30Laos to Reopen Under Green Zone Travel Plan
Laos has confirmed 1 January 2022 as its official reopening date, according to a notice issued by the Prime Minister’s Office.
The notice was issued late last night, signed off by Head of the Office of the Prime Minister’s Office, Khamchen Vongphosy.
According to the notice, the government has approved the Lao Travel Green Zone Plan that would allow tourists to visit provinces and cities designated as “green zones” once the country reopens.
The government has set out seven major tasks and 34 other items it must complete before the reopening can commence.
The notice states that an official announcement will be made on 17 December outlining the official reopening plan, and has set 1 January 2022 as the date the country will reopen to tourism.
The decision comes after a number of lengthy meetings held between tourism stakeholders and a special taskforce set up specifically to assist with reopening.
Deputy Prime Minister Kikeo Khaykhamphithoune.
A meeting held yesterday Chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Kikeo Khaykhamphithoune, who heads the National Taskforce for Covid-19 Prevention and Control as well as the reopening committee, discussed the steps that will be taken to safely restart tourism in the country.
Health and safety in relation to Covid-19 were a chief concern at the meeting, as well as the preparedness of communities in tourist hotspots.
Decisions on the procedures for applying for a visa, accessing information, length of quarantine, and other measures are to be made prior to an official announcement this week.
Laos has officially announced it will reopen for tourism on 1 January 2022, providing more information on travel conditions during a press conference held at the Lao National Convention Center today.
According to the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism, the reopening will be implemented in three phases.
The first phase will be from 1 January to 30 March 2022, the second phase from 1 April 2022 to 30 June 2022, and the third phase from 1 July 2022 onward.
According to the ministry, tourists from an initial list of countries will be allowed to travel to the country during the first phase.
The list of countries includes China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, France, United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, United States, Canada, and Australia.
Tourism will be restricted to group tours at first, with tours arranged by authorized tour operators under the Lao Travel Green Zone Plan.
LaoSafe Certified Tour Guide under Lao Travel Green Zone Plan
Tourists will be required to have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 no less than 14 days prior to arrival. Other conditions include a health insurance policy with coverage no less than USD 50,000 and a negative RT-PCR test taken within the last 72 hours.
Arrivals will be tested for Covid-19 and placed in a 24-hour quarantine in their hotel until a negative result is found.
Tourists will be required to download and register via the LaoKYC and the LaoStaySafe mobile applications prior to arriving in the country, as well as uploading their relevant vaccination certification and Covid-19 test results.
Travel Zones & Travel Trails
Under the reopening scheme, tourists will be authorized to travel within two zones, namely Green Travel Zones and Green Travel Trails.
Green Travel Zones include provinces that have at least a 70% vaccination rate among the eligible adult population, while Green Travel Trails have not yet achieved this level of vaccine coverage.
During Phase 1, tourists may visit Vientiane Capital, Luang Prabang Province, and Vang Vieng District in Vientiane Province.
Meanwhile, five provinces will be authorized for Green Travel Trails, including Oudomxay, Xayaboury, Xieng Khouang, Khammouane, and Champasack.
During Phase 2, the Green Travel Zones will consist of 9 provinces: Vientiane Capital, Vientiane Province, Luang Prabang, Oudomxay, Xayaboury, Xieng Khouang, Khammouane, Savannakhet, and Champasack.
Four provinces will be authorized for Green Travel Trails during Phase 2, including Houay Xay District in Bokeo Province, Luang Namtha Province, Sekong Province, and Salavanh Province.
According to the Ministry of Health, tourism-related establishments such as tourism sites, hotels, and restaurants in the zones must ensure that at least 95% of their staff are fully vaccinated. All tour guides and drivers must be completely vaccinated. At least 95% of the population within the travel zones must be fully vaccinated.
The Ministry of Health has stated that it will improve the quality of quarantine centers, treatment centers, and field hospitals in the event of hospitalization or seriously symptomatic cases for tourists. Asymptomatic and mild cases will be allowed to be quarantined and treated at their designated hotel.
International Borders
During Phase 1, tourists will be able to enter Laos by air via Wattay International Airport and by land across the First Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge in Vientiane Capital.
More borders will reopen in Phase 2, including Luang Prabang International Airport, Boten-Bohan border with China in Luang Namtha Province, the Third Friendship Bridge in Thakhek, the Second Friendship Bridge in Savannakhet, the Chongmek border in Pakse, the Lao Bao border with Vietnam in Savannakhet Province, and Nam Phao border (Luk Xao) with Vietnam in Bolikhamxay Province.
The LaoSafe program comprises a series of health and hygiene standards for different subsectors of the tourism and hospitality industry, including accommodation providers, food and beverage outlets, airlines, tourist attractions, tour guides, and drivers.
Procedures for Tour Companies
Tour companies and relevant businesses who wish to participate in the Green Travel Zones and Green Travel Trails must register with the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LNCCI).
Tour companies in Laos must prepare the following documentation in order to request permission for tourists to enter: a proposal from the company, a tour itinerary, hotel reservations, and copies of tourists’ passports, vaccination certificates, and tourists’ insurance policies.
These documents must be presented to the Tourism Management Department of the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism. After approval, the documents are sent to the Immigration Police Department to process entry authorization.
Returnees and Foreign Nationals in Laos
The Ministry has not yet provided information on requirements for Lao nationals or foreign residents returning to Laos, or if the issuance of visitor visas would resume.
Before 2020, tourism in Lao PDR was one of the largest sources of foreign exchange earnings, only behind mining and electricity. International tourism arrivals reached a peak in 2019 as 4.79 million visitors came to Laos and spent $934 million dollars. This makes for a contribution of tourism spend to the Lao economy of 9.1%. It also created employment for 300,000 people in Lao PDR.
COVID-19 has paralysed the tourism industry, with a decline of international tourism arrivals around 74%. Tourism businesses experienced a huge drop in revenue of somewhere between 70 and 80%. Almost all workers in the tourism sector, both directly and indirectly, have been impacted through unpaid salaries, loss of income and increase in outstanding debts (water bills, electricity bills etc), the negative impact on households’ disposable income and a decline in domestic demand.
The biggest challenge tourism businesses in Lao PDR have reported as a result of COVID-19 is the high risk of needing to terminate their business due to cashflow issues and lack of working capital. At least 50% of tourism businesses have reported cashflow issues as a result of COVID-19, and up to 65% of formal businesses have reported a high risk of needing to terminate at least part of their operations. In interviews as well as the stakeholder consultation workshop, the private sector stressed that financial support to tourism businesses should be an immediate priority, to avoid the sector to collapse in the short to medium term.
The theme of the third ASEAN Sustainable Tourism Awards 2022 is “Safe Tourism”
Responsible tourism operators in Southeast Asia can now participate to the 3rd ASEAN Sustainable Tourism Awards (ASTA), a prestigious recognition in support to the implementation of ASEAN’s Tourism Strategic Plan 2016-2025.
Twenty sustainable tourism packages – two from each ASEAN Member State (one urban and one rural) – will be highlighted on the respective NTO’s website and will receive exposure as a national best practice operator during press conferences and trade shows such as ATF, TRAVEX, ITB and WTM covering the two years period, in order to raise their business exposure as well as international visibility.
They will be invited on stage to receive a trophy and recognition during the sustainable tourism awards event, which will be part of the ASEAN Tourism Forum in Cambodia, January 2022.
Mr. Khom DUANGCHANTHA, Director General of Tourism Marketing Department, Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism visioned that ASEAN tourism operators have to showcase the best tourism products to be featured in the ASEAN award platform launched. The tourism package are represented importance of sustainable tourism practices in combating seasonality and rebalancing tourist flows into ASEAN countries. “The diversity and quality of ASEAN’s sustainable tour packages are amazing for tourists to select according to their preferences. The aim of the awards is to prove and foster green tourism practitioners” Mr. Khom stated.
Of the two winners in each country, one will be “rural”, one will be “urban” to reaffirm that city operators can be sustainable as much as rural ones.
The award takes place every two years with a different theme. For 2022-2023, for the 3rd edition of ASTA, the theme is “Safe Tourism”. “Safe tourism” refers to trips made to destinations where all the precautions have been taken to provide visitors with the safest experience and it constitutes the main selling argument.
Each application will be assessed by ASTA’s Master Assessors in the applicant’s country.
The deadline for submissions is 30th October 2021. Results will be announced in December and the awarding ceremony will be take place on January 2022 during ASEAN Tourism Forum in Cambodia.
Applicants can read the full rules and regulations and download the application forms and guidelines here alternatively email asta.asean@gmail.com.
Vang Vieng’s blue bridge, known as Khoua See Fa Tham Non, is offering free passage until 2022.
The bridge, spanning the Song River, was constructed by Wonderful Travel Co., Ltd and officially opened to the public in August 2019.
Located just beyond the Vang Vieng fresh market, at 16 meters high and 110 meters long, the bridge allows road traffic to easily and conveniently cross the river and access tourism sites on the other side.
President of Wonderful Travel Co, Mr. Bounphan Vongsamphan spoke with the Laotian Times, saying the bridge, officially known as Tham Non Blue Bridge, or Khoua See Fa Tham Non, has become a tourism site in its own right.
Crossing the blue bridge in Vang Vieng.
It was constructed over 3,574 square meters, and is valued at over LAK 1.6 billion, according to Mr. Bounphan.
“We have been offering passage across the bridge free of charge since 2019, and will continue to do so until 2022,” he said.
“However, we expect to begin charging for use of the blue bridge from 2023 until 2030,” Mr. Bounphan Vongsamphan added.
Vang Vieng authorities said recently that the town had received over one million visitors in the last five years, with 700,000 of these foreign tourists.
Due to Covid-19 pandemic, however, the number of visitors to Vang Vieng has dropped to just 30 percent of its pre-pandemic volume.
The opening of the Vientiane to Vang Vieng Expressway has cut travel time, and resulted in a surge of domestic tourists on weekends and holidays.
The blue bridge is located in Houy Sangao Village, Vang Vieng District, in Vientiane Province, and provides access to areas beyond Vang Vieng town. Activities for visitors in the area include a viewpoint on the bridge, as well as kayaking, ziplining, caving, and more.
First Tourists Arrive in Laos After Reopening
A Korean school group has become the first group of tourists to arrive in Laos since the country’s reopening this year.
Vientiane Times reports that the group of 17 students and six teachers from Ipo High School in Seoul, Korea, arrived at Wattay International Airport on Monday.
The group will be undertaking cultural exchange activities and playing golf with students and staff from Faseekham Secondary School in Vientiane’s Naxaithong District.
The school’s travel arrangements were organized by Family Tour Co Ltd.
A representative of Ipo School, Ms. Sin Su Lee, said in an interview with VTE 9 Channel that “our visit is to promote cultural exchanges and practice golf from 10 January to 20 February. We can travel in Laos as part of the Green Zone Travel Plan scheme organized by the Government of Laos.”
The students and teachers from Ipo High School’s golf department will be able to visit Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang as part of their trip as “green zones” under the Green Zone Travel Plan.
“The main purpose of the trip is for our students to practice golf,” said Ms. Sin Su Lee, “however, our group is also excited about visiting beautiful natural sites, as well as learning about the history and culture of Laos,” she said.
The group will stay at the Booyoung Lao Hotel which is located near the SEA Games Golf Club in Xaythany District.
Laos officially reopened its borders to group tours from 31 countries on 1 January under the Green Zone Travel Plan.
Under the scheme, tourists are authorized to travel within two zones, namely Green Travel Zones and Green Travel Trails, which will be rolled out in three phases.
Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2022/01/11/first-tourists-arrive-in-laos-after-reopening/
Lao Food Festival to Promote Food and Culture of Laos in Vientiane Capital
The Lao Food Festival 2022 will be held in Vientiane Capital at the end of this month to promote the food and culture of Laos.
The festival will be held under “New Normal” conditions, according to a report by Lao Economic Daily, with the open-air event taking place at Chao Anou Park from 25 to 29 January.
President of the Lao Businesswomen’s Association, Mrs. Chanthachone Vongsay, said on Wednesday that the Lao Food Festival has been scaled-down this year, featuring only around 120 stalls.
“The festival will see stalls offering traditional Lao cuisine, handicrafts, agricultural products and souvenirs, as well as international food prepared by various embassies in Laos,” said Mrs. Chanthachone.
The Lao Food Festival provides a platform for aspiring young businesswomen to exhibit their products to the wider public, as well as to promote and preserve traditional Lao cuisine.
Mrs. Chanthachone said that the 16th Lao Food Festival will also be an occasion to welcome foreign visitors arriving in Laos under the Laos Travel Green Zone scheme.
To ensure compliance with Covid-19 prevention and control measures, stalls, chairs, and tables will be separated to ensure social distancing.
At the same time, medical personnel will be on-site to check the temperature of visitors before entering the event, as well as provide free face masks and hand gel, while attendees and vendors will be required to be fully vaccinated.
The event will commence with an opening ceremony at 8 am on 25 January.
Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2022/01/07/lao-food-festival-to-promote-food-and-culture-of-laos-in-vientiane-capital/
Over 2000 Domestic Tourists Visited Vang Vieng in December 2021
More than two thousand domestic tourists visited Vang Vieng District in Vientiane Province throughout December 2021.
Following the reopening of attractions in Vang Vieng late last year, the number of visitors reached over 2000 in December, Socio-Economic Daily reports.
Head of the Vang Vieng District Office of Information, Culture, and Tourism, Mr. Atthayasay Manivanh, says some 2,664 tourists visited Vang Vieng in December 2021.
He said that Vang Vieng had seen great hardship after facing closure for a year as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, with the tourism sector hit hardest.
However, a large number of tourist sites across Vang Vieng District have since reopened, including caves, waterfalls, and viewpoints.
“With tourism services reopening, authorities and business operators in Vang Vieng are taking strict measures to prevent and control the spread of Covid-19,” Mr. Atthayasay added.
Meanwhile, Deputy District Governor of Vang Vieng, Mr. Kwian Thong Theptha, told the media that authorities in Vang Vieng are speeding up economic recovery by providing low-interest loans to businesses.
Owner of Cliff View Riverside Resort & Restaurant, Ms. Kai, said in an interview that she witnessed a large influx of domestic tourists over the last month that gave a significant boost to local businesses.
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She said that some restaurants were caught by surprise, running out of supplies and being unable to serve customers.
“It is wonderful that Vang Vieng is reopening to tourists since this will assist the local economy and provide employment for individuals who lost their jobs during the Covid outbreak,” Ms. Kai added.
Green Travel Zone Plan
Laos has officially reopened phase one of its Green Zone Travel Plan, allowing fully vaccinated foreign tourists traveling with group tours to enter the country.
Vang Vieng has been listed as a “Green Zone” under the country’s Green Zone Travel reopening scheme, along with Vientiane Capital and Luang Prabang.
Under the plan, international tourists traveling with group tours may visit areas designated as green zones, which have populations that are 70-80 percent vaccinated against Covid-19, with 90-95 percent of service providers immunized.
Traveling in Green Travel Zone areas would see tourists staying at hotels certified under the LaoSafe program, while tourists traveling outside green zones to other provinces could travel to areas approved as “Green Trail Zone” locations.
Vang Vieng is now accessible via the Vientiane to Vang Vieng Expressway, as well as along the Laos-China Railway.
Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2022/01/06/over-2000-domestic-tourists-visited-vang-vieng-in-december-2021/
Laos Updates List of Countries Permitted to Enter Under Travel Green Zone Plan
Laos has announced that tourists from an additional 14 countries will be permitted to enter the country under its Travel Green Zone Plan.
The Consular Affairs Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has approved Brunei, Indonesia, the Philippines, Russia, Norway, Switzerland, Sweden, Finland, Israel, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Poland, Denmark, and Belgium for permission to enter Laos under the new travel scheme.
The 14 nations have been added to the initial list of 17 countries officially announced two weeks ago.
The initial list includes China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, France, United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, United States, Canada, and Australia.
Under the reopening scheme, tourists will be authorized to travel within two zones, namely Green Travel Zones and Green Travel Trails, which will be rolled out in three phases.
During Phase One, from 1 January to 30 March 2022, tourists may visit Vientiane Capital, Luang Prabang Province, and Vang Vieng District in Vientiane Province.
Meanwhile, five provinces will be authorized for Green Travel Trails, including Oudomxay, Xayaboury, Xieng Khouang, Khammouane, and Champasack.
During Phase Two, the Green Travel Zones will consist of nine provinces: Vientiane Capital, Vientiane Province, Luang Prabang, Oudomxay, Xayaboury, Xieng Khouang, Khammouane, Savannakhet, and Champasack.
Four provinces will be authorized for Green Travel Trails during Phase Two, including Houay Xay District in Bokeo Province, Luang Namtha Province, Sekong Province, and Salavanh Province.
Laos has recorded over 111,000 cases of Covid-19 since the pandemic began, with the government approving a controlled reopening of its borders in 2022 to reduce the spread of Covid-19 in the country.
Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2021/12/31/laos-updates-list-of-countries-permitted-to-enter-under-travel-green-zone-plan/
Laos to Reopen Under Green Zone Travel Plan
The government of Laos has begun preparations for reopening the country to vaccinated tourists under its new Lao Travel Green Zone plan.
The new plan for reopening will see Vientiane Capital, Vang Vieng, and Luang Prabang designated as “green zones” to ensure the safety of travelers and service providers, according to Vientiane Times.
Authorities and tourism sector stakeholders discussed the plan at the Public and Private Sector Consultation Meeting on Country Reopening Plan Preparation held on Tuesday, led by the country’s new Minister of Information, Culture, and Tourism Mrs. Suanesavanh Vingaket.
Under the plan, areas designated as green zones must have a population of 70-80 percent vaccinated, with 90-95 percent of service providers immunized, according to the Lao Travel Green Zone strategy.
Conditions for vaccinated arrivals are to include a valid certificate of entry, a vaccination certificate valid at least two weeks prior to arrival, and a negative PCR test completed 72 hours prior to departing for Laos.
Vientiane Times reports that tourists would be transported to hotels via vehicles approved under the LaoSafe certification program while they await the result of a PCR test which would be available within 24 hours.
A positive test result would result in three days of isolation before another test would be undertaken.
Meanwhile, a new Contact Tracing Application is to be available to tourists called LaoStaySafe, which would provide information updates and for tourists in English while monitoring their movements.
Travel in green zone approved areas would see tourists staying at hotels approved under the LaoSafe program, while tourists traveling outside green zones to other provinces would be required to use transportation and book hotels that have been certified under the LaoSafe program.
The LaoSafe program is a health and hygiene program for the tourism and hospitality sector approved by the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism (MICT), and that will be piloted in Vientiane Capital before expanding to other provinces.
It comprises a series of health and hygiene standards for different subsectors of the tourism and hospitality industry, including accommodation providers, food and beverage outlets, airlines, tourist attractions, tour guides, and drivers.
Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2021/11/18/laos-to-reopen-under-travel-green-zone-plan/
Laos Confirms 1 January Reopening for Tourists
Laos has confirmed 1 January 2022 as its official reopening date, according to a notice issued by the Prime Minister’s Office.
The notice was issued late last night, signed off by Head of the Office of the Prime Minister’s Office, Khamchen Vongphosy.
According to the notice, the government has approved the Lao Travel Green Zone Plan that would allow tourists to visit provinces and cities designated as “green zones” once the country reopens.
The government has set out seven major tasks and 34 other items it must complete before the reopening can commence.
The notice states that an official announcement will be made on 17 December outlining the official reopening plan, and has set 1 January 2022 as the date the country will reopen to tourism.
The decision comes after a number of lengthy meetings held between tourism stakeholders and a special taskforce set up specifically to assist with reopening.
A meeting held yesterday Chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Kikeo Khaykhamphithoune, who heads the National Taskforce for Covid-19 Prevention and Control as well as the reopening committee, discussed the steps that will be taken to safely restart tourism in the country.
Health and safety in relation to Covid-19 were a chief concern at the meeting, as well as the preparedness of communities in tourist hotspots.
Populations in five provinces along the Laos-China Railway are to receive booster shots against Covid-19 in advance of the reopening to tourism.
Decisions on the procedures for applying for a visa, accessing information, length of quarantine, and other measures are to be made prior to an official announcement this week.
Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2021/12/16/laos-confirms-1-january-reopening-for-tourists/
Laos Announces Travel Conditions for 2022 Reopening
Laos has officially announced it will reopen for tourism on 1 January 2022, providing more information on travel conditions during a press conference held at the Lao National Convention Center today.
According to the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism, the reopening will be implemented in three phases.
The first phase will be from 1 January to 30 March 2022, the second phase from 1 April 2022 to 30 June 2022, and the third phase from 1 July 2022 onward.
According to the ministry, tourists from an initial list of countries will be allowed to travel to the country during the first phase.
The list of countries includes China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, France, United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, United States, Canada, and Australia.
Tourism will be restricted to group tours at first, with tours arranged by authorized tour operators under the Lao Travel Green Zone Plan.
Tourists will be required to have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 no less than 14 days prior to arrival. Other conditions include a health insurance policy with coverage no less than USD 50,000 and a negative RT-PCR test taken within the last 72 hours.
Arrivals will be tested for Covid-19 and placed in a 24-hour quarantine in their hotel until a negative result is found.
Tourists will be required to download and register via the LaoKYC and the LaoStaySafe mobile applications prior to arriving in the country, as well as uploading their relevant vaccination certification and Covid-19 test results.
Travel Zones & Travel Trails
Under the reopening scheme, tourists will be authorized to travel within two zones, namely Green Travel Zones and Green Travel Trails.
Green Travel Zones include provinces that have at least a 70% vaccination rate among the eligible adult population, while Green Travel Trails have not yet achieved this level of vaccine coverage.
During Phase 1, tourists may visit Vientiane Capital, Luang Prabang Province, and Vang Vieng District in Vientiane Province.
Meanwhile, five provinces will be authorized for Green Travel Trails, including Oudomxay, Xayaboury, Xieng Khouang, Khammouane, and Champasack.
During Phase 2, the Green Travel Zones will consist of 9 provinces: Vientiane Capital, Vientiane Province, Luang Prabang, Oudomxay, Xayaboury, Xieng Khouang, Khammouane, Savannakhet, and Champasack.
Four provinces will be authorized for Green Travel Trails during Phase 2, including Houay Xay District in Bokeo Province, Luang Namtha Province, Sekong Province, and Salavanh Province.
According to the Ministry of Health, tourism-related establishments such as tourism sites, hotels, and restaurants in the zones must ensure that at least 95% of their staff are fully vaccinated. All tour guides and drivers must be completely vaccinated. At least 95% of the population within the travel zones must be fully vaccinated.
The Ministry of Health has stated that it will improve the quality of quarantine centers, treatment centers, and field hospitals in the event of hospitalization or seriously symptomatic cases for tourists. Asymptomatic and mild cases will be allowed to be quarantined and treated at their designated hotel.
International Borders
During Phase 1, tourists will be able to enter Laos by air via Wattay International Airport and by land across the First Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge in Vientiane Capital.
More borders will reopen in Phase 2, including Luang Prabang International Airport, Boten-Bohan border with China in Luang Namtha Province, the Third Friendship Bridge in Thakhek, the Second Friendship Bridge in Savannakhet, the Chongmek border in Pakse, the Lao Bao border with Vietnam in Savannakhet Province, and Nam Phao border (Luk Xao) with Vietnam in Bolikhamxay Province.
Safe and Clean
It is recommended that all tourism establishments in the zones be certified with the LaoSafe certification.
LaoSafe, a health and hygiene program for the tourism and hospitality sector, has received official approval from the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism (MICT).
The LaoSafe program comprises a series of health and hygiene standards for different subsectors of the tourism and hospitality industry, including accommodation providers, food and beverage outlets, airlines, tourist attractions, tour guides, and drivers.
Procedures for Tour Companies
Tour companies and relevant businesses who wish to participate in the Green Travel Zones and Green Travel Trails must register with the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LNCCI).
Tour companies in Laos must prepare the following documentation in order to request permission for tourists to enter: a proposal from the company, a tour itinerary, hotel reservations, and copies of tourists’ passports, vaccination certificates, and tourists’ insurance policies.
These documents must be presented to the Tourism Management Department of the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism. After approval, the documents are sent to the Immigration Police Department to process entry authorization.
Returnees and Foreign Nationals in Laos
The Ministry has not yet provided information on requirements for Lao nationals or foreign residents returning to Laos, or if the issuance of visitor visas would resume.
Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2021/12/17/laos-announces-travel-conditions-for-2022-reopening/
LAO PDR TOURISM COVID-19 RECOVERY ROADMAP 2021-2025
Before 2020, tourism in Lao PDR was one of the largest sources of foreign exchange earnings, only behind mining and electricity. International tourism arrivals reached a peak in 2019 as 4.79 million visitors came to Laos and spent $934 million dollars. This makes for a contribution of tourism spend to the Lao economy of 9.1%. It also created employment for 300,000 people in Lao PDR.
COVID-19 has paralysed the tourism industry, with a decline of international tourism arrivals around 74%. Tourism businesses experienced a huge drop in revenue of somewhere between 70 and 80%. Almost all workers in the tourism sector, both directly and indirectly, have been impacted through unpaid salaries, loss of income and increase in outstanding debts (water bills, electricity bills etc), the negative impact on households’ disposable income and a decline in domestic demand.
The biggest challenge tourism businesses in Lao PDR have reported as a result of COVID-19 is the high risk of needing to terminate their business due to cashflow issues and lack of working capital. At least 50% of tourism businesses have reported cashflow issues as a result of COVID-19, and up to 65% of formal businesses have reported a high risk of needing to terminate at least part of their operations. In interviews as well as the stakeholder consultation workshop, the private sector stressed that financial support to tourism businesses should be an immediate priority, to avoid the sector to collapse in the short to medium term.
THE 3RD ASEAN SUSTAINABLE TOURISM AWARDS LAUNCHED
The theme of the third ASEAN Sustainable Tourism Awards 2022 is “Safe Tourism”
Responsible tourism operators in Southeast Asia can now participate to the 3rd ASEAN Sustainable Tourism Awards (ASTA), a prestigious recognition in support to the implementation of ASEAN’s Tourism Strategic Plan 2016-2025.
Twenty sustainable tourism packages – two from each ASEAN Member State (one urban and one rural) – will be highlighted on the respective NTO’s website and will receive exposure as a national best practice operator during press conferences and trade shows such as ATF, TRAVEX, ITB and WTM covering the two years period, in order to raise their business exposure as well as international visibility.
In addition, winners will be highlighted on ASEAN Tourism’s website https://www.visitsoutheastasia.travel/
They will be invited on stage to receive a trophy and recognition during the sustainable tourism awards event, which will be part of the ASEAN Tourism Forum in Cambodia, January 2022.
Mr. Khom DUANGCHANTHA, Director General of Tourism Marketing Department, Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism visioned that ASEAN tourism operators have to showcase the best tourism products to be featured in the ASEAN award platform launched. The tourism package are represented importance of sustainable tourism practices in combating seasonality and rebalancing tourist flows into ASEAN countries.
“The diversity and quality of ASEAN’s sustainable tour packages are amazing for tourists to select according to their preferences. The aim of the awards is to prove and foster green tourism practitioners” Mr. Khom stated.
Of the two winners in each country, one will be “rural”, one will be “urban” to reaffirm that city operators can be sustainable as much as rural ones.
The award takes place every two years with a different theme. For 2022-2023, for the 3rd edition of ASTA, the theme is “Safe Tourism”. “Safe tourism” refers to trips made to destinations where all the precautions have been taken to provide visitors with the safest experience and it constitutes the main selling argument.
Each application will be assessed by ASTA’s Master Assessors in the applicant’s country.
The deadline for submissions is 30th October 2021. Results will be announced in December and the awarding ceremony will be take place on January 2022 during ASEAN Tourism Forum in Cambodia.
Applicants can read the full rules and regulations and download the application forms and guidelines here alternatively email asta.asean@gmail.com.
Further information on past edition
Visit https://www.visitsoutheastasia.travel/
Blue Bridge Remains Free of Charge in Vang Vieng
Vang Vieng’s blue bridge, known as Khoua See Fa Tham Non, is offering free passage until 2022.
The bridge, spanning the Song River, was constructed by Wonderful Travel Co., Ltd and officially opened to the public in August 2019.
Located just beyond the Vang Vieng fresh market, at 16 meters high and 110 meters long, the bridge allows road traffic to easily and conveniently cross the river and access tourism sites on the other side.
President of Wonderful Travel Co, Mr. Bounphan Vongsamphan spoke with the Laotian Times, saying the bridge, officially known as Tham Non Blue Bridge, or Khoua See Fa Tham Non, has become a tourism site in its own right.
It was constructed over 3,574 square meters, and is valued at over LAK 1.6 billion, according to Mr. Bounphan.
“We have been offering passage across the bridge free of charge since 2019, and will continue to do so until 2022,” he said.
“However, we expect to begin charging for use of the blue bridge from 2023 until 2030,” Mr. Bounphan Vongsamphan added.
Vang Vieng authorities said recently that the town had received over one million visitors in the last five years, with 700,000 of these foreign tourists.
Due to Covid-19 pandemic, however, the number of visitors to Vang Vieng has dropped to just 30 percent of its pre-pandemic volume.
The opening of the Vientiane to Vang Vieng Expressway has cut travel time, and resulted in a surge of domestic tourists on weekends and holidays.
The blue bridge is located in Houy Sangao Village, Vang Vieng District, in Vientiane Province, and provides access to areas beyond Vang Vieng town. Activities for visitors in the area include a viewpoint on the bridge, as well as kayaking, ziplining, caving, and more.
Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2021/03/02/blue-bridge-remains-free-of-charge-in-vang-vieng/