#coronovirus
#impact-summary
Laos
Laos-China Railway to start cross-border passenger operations from Vientiane to Kunming from mid-Apr 2023.
Lockdown Status
Open
Inbound Travel
Open
Outbound Travel
Open
Confirmed
218,027
28,956 per million
7 Day Rolling Ave
+1 ▲
+33% vs prev week
Deaths
758
100.7 per million
Fully Vaccinated
-
0.00% of pop.
Source: Cases - John Hopkins University (2023-03-21).
Retrieved from OurWorldInData.org
Latest Travel Industry News
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22-Mar-2023 🌏 outboundCambodian Ministry of Interior and Lao Ministry of Public Security have agreed to facilitate border-crossing processes and make it easier for citizens to visit the other country for business, tourism, or family reunion. The two sides also agreed to step up intelligence sharing between law enforcement authorities to curb cross-border crimes like smuggling and human traffickingSource: phnompenhpost.com/national-politics/cambodia-laos-pledge-border-co-op
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17-Mar-2023 🛬 inboundThe Lao PM has ordered that immigration booths be installed at train stations on the Laos-China Railway, to boost tourism and help both inbound and outbound tourismSource: laotiantimes.com/2023/03/17/lao-prime-minister-orders-installation-of-immigration-checkpoints-at-railway-stations/
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17-Mar-2023 🛬 inboundTime Magazine has named Luang Prabang one of its 50 greatest places in the world in 2023Source: laotiantimes.com/2023/03/17/time-magazine-hails-luang-prabang-as-one-of-worlds-greatest-places-in-2023/
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17-Mar-2023 🛬 inboundThe Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism will be holding a National Tour Guide training course from 6 Jun-29 AugSource: facebook.com/groups/tourismprofessionalsinlaos/posts/3542380289380112/
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17-Mar-2023 🛬 inboundThe President of the Hotel and Restaurant Association has warned that hotels and restaurants in Laos “may not be able to accommodate large groups of Chinese visitors”, and called for greater investment to be able to serve larger groups of foreign visitors. It has also called for the government to set up a tourism promotion council to level up the quality of servicesSource: facebook.com/groups/tourismprofessionalsinlaos/posts/3542231652728309/
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15-Mar-2023 🛬 inboundThe Laos-China Railway has officially launched its ticketing app, with heavy traffic crashing the payment system. The app is in Chinese, Lao and English, and once a ticket is reserved via the app, they can scan a QR code at the railway station to obtain the physical ticketSource: laotiantimes.com/2023/03/15/laos-china-railway-ticketing-app-is-now-officially-online/
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14-Mar-2023 🛬 inboundLuang Prabang has published its Pi Mai schedule for the Lao New Year, from 11-20 Apr, including a market fair, elephant procession and a grand procession of Miss New YearSource: laotiantimes.com/2023/03/14/luang-prabang-releases-lao-new-year-event-schedule/
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14-Mar-2023 🛬 inboundTUI Care Foundation have launched a 10 million EUR project to boost development in 9 lease developed countries, which includes Laos, for projects until 2030. The program will develop capacity, have educational programs, conserve cultural heritage and boost tourism entrepreneurship for SMEsSource: laotiantimes.com/2023/03/14/laos-to-receive-10-year-tourism-support-from-international-foundation/
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14-Mar-2023 🛬 inboundLaos has won 35 awards in the ASEAN Tourism StandardsSource: facebook.com/groups/tourismprofessionalsinlaos/posts/3540137439604397/
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13-Mar-2023 🛬 inboundVietnam is planning to upgrade and repair roads connecting it with Laos, Cambodia and Thailand in a $76 million USD projectSource: laotiantimes.com/2023/03/13/vietnam-to-repair-highway-connecting-it-to-laos-cambodia-and-thailand/
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13-Mar-2023 👨✈️ aviationSichuan Airlines will open flights from Kunming-Vientiane from 26 MarSource: facebook.com/groups/tourismprofessionalsinlaos/posts/3539555252995949/
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10-Mar-2023 🛬 inboundTham Nanglong cave in Khounkham district will offer new activities, including floating through the cave on inner tubes, walk across a rope bridge and experience zip lines. It will also have other developments over a 40,674 sqm siteSource: facebook.com/groups/tourismprofessionalsinlaos/posts/3537556689862472/
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9-Mar-2023 🛬 inboundThe Laos Anti Trafficking in Persons Project, funded by USAID, has launched tools to help the tourism industry combat human trafficking through education and communication toolsSource: laotiantimes.com/2023/03/09/ministry-of-tourism-to-tackle-human-trafficking-in-tourism-industry/
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9-Mar-2023 🛬 inboundLaos reported its Feb 2023 inflation rose to 41.3%, with the rising price in fuel and imported goods, as well as the weakened Lao kip, worsening the situation. Hotel and restaurant services increased by 36.2%. It has increased just 1pp vs Jan 2023Source: thediplomat.com/2023/03/inflation-continues-its-steady-upward-rise-in-laos/
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9-Mar-2023 🛬 inboundNong Khang airport in Xamneua district, Huaphan province is schedule for handover in Apr 2024, and is over 90.3% completeSource: facebook.com/groups/tourismprofessionalsinlaos/posts/3536958209922320/
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9-Mar-2023 🛬 inboundVientiane province is planning to develop Tham Phaka cave to make it more accessible to touristsSource: facebook.com/groups/tourismprofessionalsinlaos/posts/3536958939922247/
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7-Mar-2023 🛬 inboundThe International Labor Organisation (ILO) held a hospitality staff training program from 6 Feb-15 Mar, with various programs for different skill levels, including housekeeping and F&B training for both unskilled and skilled workersSource: laotiantimes.com/2023/03/07/laos-holds-training-to-improve-services-in-hospitality-and-tourism-sectors/
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7-Mar-2023 🛬 inboundVientiane Information, Culture and Tourism Department have reported that Vientiane Capital saw over 600,000 international visitors in 2022, with the majority from Thailand and South Korea. For 2023, it aims to see over 500,000 international visitorsSource: laotiantimes.com/2023/03/07/over-600000-foreign-tourists-visited-vientiane-capital-in-2022/
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7-Mar-2023 🌏 outboundInternational tourists travelling from Laos to Cambodia through Trapeang Kriel border, Stung Treng province have reportedly increased after the government opened the border for tourists and ahead of the 2023 SEA GamesSource: khmertimeskh.com/501250856/increase-in-number-of-tourists-entering-through-laos-cambodia-border-before-the-sea-games/
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7-Mar-2023 🛬 inboundLao immigration authorities to construct 12 more checkpoint units at the first Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge ahead of the Lao New Year in Apr, to facilitate the return of Lao workers as well as visitors from Thailand. Deputy Head of Immigration Control at the bridge reported that around 6,000-7,000 people cross through the bridge, with 1,000 vehicles crossing per day on public holidays or festivals. Lao immigration expects to see around 8,000-9,000 people crossing the bridge daily around the Lao New Year period, where there will be a total of 24 checkpointsSource: laotiantimes.com/2023/03/07/laos-to-install-more-immigration-checkpoints-at-first-lao-thai-friendship-bridge/
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7-Mar-2023 🛬 inboundExcavation work for Thailand’s longest tunnel, which will connect to the fourth Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge, has begun, and the tunnel is expected to start operations by 2028. The tunnel is reportedly part of the Den Chan-Chiang Khong railway, and will be extended to the outskirts of Chiang Rai. The completed railway will have 26 stationsSource: laotiantimes.com/2023/03/07/thailand-begins-work-on-longest-railway-tunnel-connecting-to-laos/
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7-Mar-2023 🛬 inboundLuang Prabang has reported that there were 180,296 tourists in the province in Jan and Feb 2023, with 153,372 of those foreign nationalsSource: facebook.com/groups/tourismprofessionalsinlaos/permalink/3535418426742965/
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6-Mar-2023 🛬 inboundThe Laos-China Railway set a record of 10,000 passengers in one day on 4 Mar 2022. From Jan-Feb 2022, it carried 417,400 pax, +256.2% YoYSource: laotiantimes.com/2023/03/06/laos-china-railway-sets-record-with-10000-passengers-traveling-in-one-day/
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6-Mar-2023 🛬 inboundThe Laos-China Railway announced that its mobile ticketing app, LCR Ticket, will launch on 15 Mar. It will allow users to buy the ticket via the app, then collect it at the station, with reservations available 7 days in advance. The payment methods are reported to include UnionPay, Alipay and WeChat PaySource: laotiantimes.com/2023/03/06/laos-china-railway-ticket-reservation-app-to-go-live-this-month/
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5-Mar-2023 🌏 outboundChairman of Laos’ Alpha Data Technology Lao Sole Co., supported Cambodia’s Tourism Minister’s idea to encourage Lao tour operators to include tour packages for Laotian and Chinese tourists to visit Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and the coastal provinces of Cambodia. He also told the minister that his firm is interested in building an 80-metre-tall Buddha statue in Preah Sihanouk province to attract more touristsSource: khmertimeskh.com/501249927/laos-committed-to-attracting-more-visitors-to-cambodia/
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2-Mar-2023 👨✈️ aviationCambodian State Secretariat of Civil Aviation (SSCA) and Lao Department of Civil Aviation have signed an MoU to strengthen collaboration in civil aviation, including launching additional commercial flights between the two countries. Vietnam Airlines currently operates daily Phnom Penh-Vientiane flights, whilst Lao Airlines flies from Siem Reap to Pakse and Luang Prabang 3X weekly. Angkor Tourist Guide Association President noted that Lao tourists at Siem Reap’s temple sites are much lower than Thai and Vietnamese, despite Laos also sharing a border with Cambodia. Laos was the fifth largest source market to Cambodia in 2022 with 92,609 arrivalsSource: phnompenhpost.com/business/cambodia-lao-aviation-co-op-lifted
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2-Mar-2023 🛬 inboundLuang Prabang authorities have still not been able to extinguish the fire in a land fill complex, although it is under controlSource: laotiantimes.com/2023/03/02/luang-prabang-landfill-fire-continues-to-rage-on-after-two-weeks/
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2-Mar-2023 🛬 inboundThe Xayaboury Elephant Festival has raised concerns over the elephant’s welfare, with the original founder of the festival, the founder of the Elephant Conservation Center (ECC), concerned that the festival has transformed from focusing on conservation to a spectacle instead, with elephants performing tricks and games, something which the Director General of the Xayaboury Department of Agriculture and Forestry disputesSource: laotiantimes.com/2023/03/02/xayaboury-festival-is-the-elephant-in-the-room-for-lao-tourism/
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2-Mar-2023 🛬 inboundThe PM has instructed the Laos-China Railway to prepare for an increase in tourists, and that it should get the relevant infrastructure in place. As of 25 Feb, the train has carried 1,829,400 passengers by 2,776 train journeysSource: english.news.cn/20230302/b508a7efc30846e792a25b8a80c5daee/c.html
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1-Mar-2023 🛬 inboundChina has waived the requirement for passengers travelling from Laos to China to provide a negative RT-PCR test, and instead an antigen test will sufficeSource: laotiantimes.com/2023/03/01/china-eases-covid-regulations-for-travelers-from-laos/
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1-Mar-2023 🛬 inboundOudomxay province authorities have approved new visitor facilities at the Phou Ya Kha mountain to be developed on a 1,967 hectare site. It will include zip wires, hiking trails, a campsite, homestays and health treatments, as well as showcase local handicraftsSource: facebook.com/groups/tourismprofessionalsinlaos/posts/3531481090470032/
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28-Feb-2023 🛬 inboundLuang Prabang will start renovations on its iconic fountain parkSource: laotiantimes.com/2023/02/28/luang-prabang-to-repair-iconic-fountain-square-park/
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28-Feb-2023 🛬 inboundThe Tourism Development Department has been directed to ensure that the tourism industry can serve Chinese travellers’ needsSource: english.news.cn/20230228/b92c4946f6044de29fd524aebed39e6b/c.html
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28-Feb-2023 👨✈️ aviationLao Skyway has increased its frequency of flights between Vientiane-Luang Prabang to 4 days per weekSource: facebook.com/groups/tourismprofessionalsinlaos/posts/3530531677231640/
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27-Feb-2023 🛬 inboundThe Lao National Railway State Enterprise has authorised Kaocharoen Train Transport Co to sign an MoU on Its behalf with the State Railway of Thailand on a Lao-Thailand-China cooperation for freight trainsSource: laotiantimes.com/2023/02/27/lao-firm-signs-mou-on-laos-thailand-china-cross-border-rail-transport/
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27-Feb-2023 🛬 inboundLaos expects around 368,000 Chinese visitors in 2023Source: laotiantimes.com/2023/02/27/luang-prabang-hotels-on-full-capacity-thanks-to-chinese-tourists/
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27-Feb-2023 🛬 inboundLaos has declared 2023-2024 a Lao Tourism Year ahead of hosting the ASEAN summit in 2024, following a cabinet meeting. The government also aims to improve public transport, including the Laos-China Railway, as well as road and airport construction projects. Another government meeting discussed improving tourist attractions, hotels, restaurants, travel companies and securitySource: laotiantimes.com/2023/02/27/laos-to-declare-2023-2024-as-year-of-tourism/
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27-Feb-2023 🛬 inboundThe Malaysian Ambassador to Laos has pledged to support Laos’ tourism industry ahead of the 2024 ASEAN chairmanshipSource: facebook.com/groups/tourismprofessionalsinlaos/posts/3529896153961859/
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27-Feb-2023 🛬 inboundA new art museum in Phonesa-at village, near Nongseuam Lake in Xaythany district is set to open in 2024. It is currently 70% completeSource: facebook.com/groups/tourismprofessionalsinlaos/posts/3529965590621582/
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For news older than 30 days, please email hello@pearanderson.com.
Policy Summary
Lockdown Status
All economic sectors reopened.
Travel Restrictions
All travellers permitted to enter Laos from 9 May without testing or quarantine.
Economy Summary
Fiscal support for the tourism industry
6 Dec 2021: Tax exemptions for the tourism industry has been extended
3 Apr 2020: Tax deferral for 3 months from Apr 2020
GDP Growth Rate
% per year
4.7
2019
-0.5
2020
2.3
2021
3.4
2022
forecast
3.7
2023
forecast
Inflation Rate
% per year
3.3
2019
5.1
2020
3.7
2021
5.8
2022
forecast
5.0
2023
forecast
Source: Asian Development Bank. Asian Development Outlook (April 2022).
Consumer Trends Summary
Containment Policies Timeline
How to read this graph
International Travel Restrictions
- 0 - no restrictions
- 1 - screening arrivals
- 2 - quarantine arrivals from some or all regions
- 3 - ban arrivals from some regions
- 4 - ban on all regions or total border closure
Internal Movement Restrictions
- 0 - no restrictions
- 1 - recommend not to travel between regions/cities
- 2 - internal movement restrictions in place
Stay At Home Requirements
- 0 - no measures
- 1 - recommend not leaving house
- 2 - require not leaving house with exceptions for daily exercise, grocery shopping, and 'essential' trips
- 3 - require not leaving house with minimal exceptions (eg allowed to leave once a week, or only one person can leave at a time, etc)
School Closures
- 0 - no measures
- 1 - recommend closing
- 2 - require closing (only some levels or categories, eg just high school, or just public schools)
- 3 - require closing all levels
Tourism Arrivals Summary
International Tourism Arrivals
YoY % change
6.0
Jan'20
3.0
Feb
-52.0
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan'21
Feb
Mar
📋 About This Page
Travel impact dashboard is an easy-to-read resource to stay informed on the impact of COVID-19 on the travel industry. Get the latest travel news and analysis on Southeast Asia tourism.
For travel professionals who need regular updates on their source markets. Know when to start marketing for inbound and outbound tourism.
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Cambodia
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