#coronovirus
#impact-summary
Laos
Mobile ticketing app for Laos-China Railway finally set to ease ticketing issues from year-end.
Lockdown Status
Open
Inbound Travel
Open
Outbound Travel
Open
Confirmed
216,988
28,818 per million
7 Day Rolling Ave
+42 ▲
+80% vs prev week
Deaths
758
100.7 per million
Fully Vaccinated
-
0.00% of pop.
Source: Cases - John Hopkins University (2022-12-06).
Retrieved from OurWorldInData.org
Latest Travel Industry News
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04-Dec-2022 🛬 inboundThe Laos-China has officially announced its ticket reservation mobile app, which will launch at the end of Dec. Once purchased via the app, the physical ticket will be available at the station, and reservations can be made 7 days in advanceSource: laotiantimes.com/2022/12/04/laos-china-railway-unveils-ticket-reservation-app/
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02-Dec-2022 🛬 inboundThe Laos-China Railways’ Laos portion has so far carried 1.26 million pax since it opened in December 2021Source: english.news.cn/20221202/dbc5b5c2ff5140cb8a4238ccb913aacc/c.html
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02-Dec-2022 👨✈️ aviationThai AirAsia to add more flights to Laos, with four more services added to its Bangkok-Vientiane flights, and three added to its Bangkok-Luang Prabang flightsSource: ttrweekly.com/site/2022/12/thai-airasia-boosts-flights-to-laos/
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01-Dec-2022 🛬 inboundLaos and China will hold events on 30 Dec to mark the one-year anniversary of the Laos-China Railway openingSource: thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2022/12/01/laos-china-to-celebrate-first-anniversary-of-railway
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01-Dec-2022 🛬 inboundThe security firm Global Guardian has rated Laos as a medium-risk country, similar to the Philippines, Cambodia, Thailand and Indonesia, due to areas such as crime rates, sporadic unrest and crisis preparationSource: laotiantimes.com/2022/12/01/laos-assessed-as-medium-risk-country-to-visit-in-se-asia/
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01-Dec-2022 🛬 inboundThere will be a feasibility study into building a cable car in Laos, along with associated activities, in Vangvieng district, Vientiane province, with an MoU signed between the government and H&B and STO LAO CompanySource: facebook.com/groups/tourismprofessionalsinlaos/permalink/3457980817820060
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30-Nov-2022 🛬 inboundThe Vice President of the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry has noted that tourism businesses along the Laos-China railway are “booming now”, and that he believes that Laos will be in a good position once China reopens its bordersSource: thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2022/11/30/laos-tourism-industry-on-road-to-recovery
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30-Nov-2022 🛬 inboundCelebrations were held in Xieng Khuang Province to mark the Plain of Jars formally being inscribed into the UNESCO World Heritage Site list, Laos’ third siteSource: thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2022/11/30/plain-of-jars-officially-celebrated-as-laos-third-world-heritage-site
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28-Nov-2022 🛬 inboundXaysomboun Province held the opening ceremony of the 2022 Hmong gamesSource: laotiantimes.com/2022/11/28/xaysomboun-hosts-bullfighting-competition-as-part-of-hmong-games/
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24-Nov-2022 🛬 inboundNew regulations have been put into place for those who want to set up new tour operator or travel agency businesses from 2 Dec 2022 – they will now need at least a registered capital of 100 million to 1.5 billion kip, with foreign investors needing to deposit 30% of the total registered capital into a bank accountSource: facebook.com/groups/tourismprofessionalsinlaos/permalink/3452220285062780/
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24-Nov-2022 🛬 inboundMeuangfeuang district is preparing for its Sammuean Toubfeuang festival in Dec in Natua village, Meuangfeuang district, Vientiane provinceSource: facebook.com/groups/tourismprofessionalsinlaos/permalink/3452231301728345/
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24-Nov-2022 🛬 inboundOudomxay province is looking into developing the Phou Ya Kha into a natural tourism siteSource: facebook.com/groups/tourismprofessionalsinlaos/permalink/3452398111711664/
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24-Nov-2022 🛬 inboundThe e-visa will now be available at the Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge IV in Bokeo provinceSource: laoevisa.gov.la/index
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23-Nov-2022 🛬 inboundThe Information, Culture and Tourism Department has reported that from Jan-Oct, 335,794 tourists arrived into Luang Prabang by train, around 85.27% of the total travellers. Total revenue generated by tourists is 138 million USD. It expected 100,000 to visit Luang Prabang over the next 2 months, with 200 million USD in revenueSource: english.news.cn/20221123/57c54dd487984ec8aca1882f6cacc6ed/c.html
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23-Nov-2022 👨✈️ aviationThai AirAsia is increasing the frequency of its flights from Bangkok-Vientiane and Bangkok-Luang Prabang from DecSource: facebook.com/groups/tourismprofessionalsinlaos/permalink/3451668268451315/
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22-Nov-2022 🛬 inboundKorea Airports Corporation (KAC) are planning to sign a partnership with the government of Laos to further develop Luang Prabang international Airport. The Lao government is searching for a private partner for a $150 mil USD investment to manage the airport for the next 50 years. KAC’s proposed plan would see 4.61 million pax being accommodated, up from the current 1.2 million pax. It suggested a remodelling and expansion of the terminals and runways, as well as a terminal to separate international and domestic travellersSource: laotiantimes.com/2022/11/22/korean-company-seeks-govt-partnership-to-expand-luang-prabang-airport/
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22-Nov-2022 🛬 inboundThe Luang Prabang Head of Industry and Commerce has noted that the Luang Prabang night market has been rearranged in a way to make it tidier and more attractive for touristsSource: laotiantimes.com/2022/11/22/luang-prabang-manages-vendors-in-the-night-market/
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21-Nov-2022 🛬 inboundThe annual Luang Prabang Film Festival has had to change its name to be able to continue to produce the event in 2022 in DecSource: variety.com/2022/film/news/luang-prabang-film-festival-name-1235439654/
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18-Nov-2022 🛬 inboundRadio Free Asia has reported that the southern Laos tourism stakeholders are suffering due to the lack of tourists now visiting to see the Irrawaddy dolphins, who are no longer in the Lao stretch of the Mekong RiverSource: rfa.org/english/news/laos/freshwater-dolphins-11182022141851.html
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18-Nov-2022 👨✈️ aviationT’way Air will restart its flights between Vientiane-Seoul from 22 DecSource: facebook.com/groups/tourismprofessionalsinlaos/permalink/3447531842198291/
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17-Nov-2022 🛬 inboundLaos’ Tourism Marketing Department of the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism has reported that it has seen 1,701,806 tourists from Jan-Sep 2022, with 1,037,050 Lao nationals, and 644,756 foreigners. The number of domestic visitors was +39% YoY, and $117 million USD revenue was generated. The top international source markets were Thailand (364,515), China (18,902), Europe (14,194), South Korea (9,885), the US (6,695) and Cambodia (6,379). Revenue generated by international tourists is over $100 million USD. The majority of visitors arrived via Wattay International Airport, pass through the Golden Triangle border crossing or enter across the Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge in Vientiane. The government expects 300,000 additional tourists in Q4 2022Source: vientianetimes.org.la/freeContent/FreeConten2022_Thailand224.php
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16-Nov-2022 🛬 inboundAustralia’s travel advisory website has changed its travel advisory for Bokeo province for travellers to “exercise a high degree of caution”, noting criminal activities and employment scamsSource: laotiantimes.com/2022/11/16/australia-issues-travel-warning-for-laos-bokeo-province/
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16-Nov-2022 🛬 inboundLaos is planning to restore forest coverage to 70% by 2035Source: en.vietnamplus.vn/laos-aims-to-increase-forest-coverage-to-70-by-2035/243958.vnp
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16-Nov-2022 🛬 inboundThe first bullet train on the Laos-China railway commenced its service on 15 Nov between Kunming-Mohan in China’s Yunnan province. The number of trips taken on the Laos-China railway so far have reached 8 millionSource: chinadaily.com.cn/a/202211/16/WS6374b439a31049175432a1c0.html
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15-Nov-2022 🛬 inboundXieng Khouang will host the 11th Lao National Games on 13-22 Dec 2022. The event will celebrate the UNESCO site the Plain of Jars, amongst othersSource: laotiantimes.com/2022/11/15/xieng-khouang-to-host-lao-national-games-in-december/
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15-Nov-2022 🛬 inboundThe Lao PM and Australian PM have agreed to deepen their relationshipSource: en.vietnamplus.vn/laos-australia-agree-to-elevate-ties-to-comprehensive-partnership/243901.vnp
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14-Nov-2022 🛬 inboundThe Ministry of Public Security has signed an agreement with a Korean company, Oriental Pearl Company Ltd, to build a $2.9 billion USD Resort Lao Complex in Vientiane province. It will include a township, tourist site and service complex centreSource: vientianetimes.org.la/freeContent/FreeConten221_South_y22.php
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10-Nov-2022 🛬 inboundEsquire Philippines named Luang Prabang one of the 12 easiest places in Southeast Asia to go backpackingSource: thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2022/11/10/laos039-luang-prabang-named-among-easiest-places-to-travel-in-south-east-asia
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10-Nov-2022 🌏 outboundLaos is interested in constructing a Laos-Vietnam Trade, Culture, and Tourism Centre in Can Tho, stated the Lao Consul General in HCMC during a 10 Nov meeting with the city's top leaders. The facility, which would span at least 1ha, will be funded entirely by Laos or a Vietnamese-Lao joint venture. The diplomat said that once operational, the facility would serve as a location for discussions between top leaders of Vietnam, Laos, ASEAN, and other nations when they visit the Mekong Delta area and Can Tho in particular. According to the Can Tho Department of Foreign Affairs, the city exported 96,430 USD worth of commodities to Laos in the first 9 months of 2022. Can Tho is also undertaking several official and student exchange programmes with Laos and is proposing the development of an air link between Can Tho and Vientiane to encourage tourism between the two nationsSource: en.vietnamplus.vn/laos-proposes-tradeculturetourism-centre-project-in-can-tho/243623.vnp
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08-Nov-2022 🛬 inboundThe Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DES) of Thailand and the Ministry of Technology and Communications of Laos have signed an MoU to cooperate in the postal, digital infrastructure development, ICT and e-commerce fields for eight years, including in digital economy, smart city, and electronic transactions, among othersSource: bangkokpost.com/business/2432310/thailand-laos-ink-mou-covering-post-digital-tech
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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
Fully vaccinated 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
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
📋 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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