Laos

A Chinese casino owner is looking at developing tourism facilities in Laos’ Golden Triangle SEZ. Some locals are concerned about the implications for agriculture, as well as the potential of transforming the Plain of Jars into a tourist attraction for those taking a break from a casino

Laos is in mourning for the death of the former President Choummaly Sayasone’s wife and son, as well as 6 others, who died after a yacht capsized on Sunday

The Tourism Minister has said that Thailand and Singapore are discussing a travel bubble, and they are also looking at countries such as Vietnam and Laos. They hope to start travel bubbles in Oct

The Academy Training Hotel and Restaurant officially opened its restaurant on 1 Apr in Vang Vieng. It also runs a small hotel with 6 guest bedrooms, giving students the chance to get real-world experience

The Laos-China railway is now 80% complete, with final sections scheduled to be completed by May

Luang Prabang have changed their festivities planned for the New Year in light of the government’s orders. The official holiday will be cut to 14-16 Apr only, but outdoor celebrations and entertainment will be banned

The Southern Vientiane Railway Station should be complete by the end of 2021

The government, Lao Handicrafts Association and cultural heritage stakeholders have met to protect Laos’ traditional designs

Laos has instructed the public to celebrate the New Year (Bunpimay) without public gatherings, with all public events banned from 14-16 Apr. Cultural performances are also banned, as is water throwing

The government will address 7 urgent issues over the next 5 years as part of its National Socio-Economic Development Plan for 2021-25. The government wants to attract more investment, focus on human resource development and reduce disparities between urban and rural areas

Luang Prabang have released a schedule for Bunpimay celebrations, including an elephant procession, traditional market fair and a grand procession

The fee structure for tests has been updated, with tourists and international residents paying more for voluntary tests, whilst civil servants, students and emergency medical cases would pay less

Laos has elected a new President, Thongloun Sisoulith, and new Prime Minister, Dr. Phankham Viphavanh

The Four Thousand Islands New Area in Champasak province is hoping to build a town with resorts and leisure facilities which will attract 2.3 million visitors annually by 2030 and 15 million by 2050

Luang Namtha is reopening its tourism sites under the Lao Thiao Lao campaign. The province plans to partners with a local company to build adventure activities, a resort, guesthouse and restaurant at Tad Namdee waterfall. It welcomed 147,000 visitors in 2020, -80% YoY

36% of SMEs have permanently closed or are on the brink of collapse, according to the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry. It noted that around 25% of the country’s 100,000 SMEs work in tourism

Khammuan province have seen some tourists from the Lao Thiao Lao program, although spending does not equal that generated by international tourists

The Sangthong-Xanakham road is 50% complete

36 endangered species have been identified in the Nakai-Nam Theun National Park in Laos

63,000 people are estimated to be unemployed in Laos, including migrant workers who returned to the country

The Lao Hotel and Restaurant Association has requested that the government lower its VAT from 10% to 5% to aid recovery. The Ministry of Tourism is preparing a new plan for the continued rollout of the Lao Thiao Lao domestic tourism scheme, asking for 3 billion kip to support advertising, as well as make the campaign a national effort to encourage more public and private participation

Laos may graduate from Least Developed Country status by 2026

UNESCO has reportedly requested that a planned hydropower dam near to Luang Prabang be inspected, in case it puts the UNESCO site at risk

Borikhamxay province will hold a food festival and convoy to promote its tourism attractions, as part of the Lao Thiao Lao campaign. The province’s target is to attract 100,000 visitors in 2021. Last year, 100,000 people visited, a drop of 50% vs 2019

Nam Et Phou Louey National Park has signed on 154 households in 4 new villages to provide ecotourism activities. These households will be trained on wildlife conservation, as well as different services such as handicrafts, porters, housekeeping, homestays, etc

The Phasad Heuanhin (stone house) in Xayphouthong district is becoming more popular with tourists. As part of the Lao Thiao Lao campaign, it organised a convoy to explore different areas of interest in the province from 27-28 Feb. In 2020, 144,000 people visited the province, -82% YoY

Laos will now require all travellers entering the country to purchase COVID-19 insurance, as well as wear a health tracking device. The insurance will cost approx. $100 USD for 14 days

The World Bank approved a $57 million USD project, Lao Landscapes and Livelihoods Project, which will focus on sustainable forest management and nature-based tourism

Luang Prabang launched the 555 campaign to encourage domestic tourism as part of the Lao Thiao Lao campaign. The authorities plan to improve tourist attraction amenities, as well as information systems. In 2020, it welcomed 275,647 visitors, a drop of 68% YoY

The National University of Laos launched its Bachelor of Arts in tourism in French program

Luang Prabang railway station is now 45% complete, and is expected to be finished in Oct

The Let’s Travel event promoting domestic tourism took place at Vientiane Center

Laos’ 2020 visitor numbers dropped by 81% YoY

Central Laos including Vientiane, Borikhamxay, Khammuan, Savannakhet, Xaysomboun, are planning a range of events to stimulate tourism from 2021-2023, as part of the Lao Thiao Lao campaign. It will include fam trips for reporters and companies, upgrading of tourist facilities, training for SME staff and encouraging links between Vientiane and 5 provinces

The Vientiane-Vang Vieng Expressway has 120 days to resolve some urgent problems, including overcharging at tolls

A 43.5km road in Champassak has opened to public traffic, running around the perimeter of Don Khong, the largest island in southern Laos

Vientiane is creating a new district, and authorities are now preparing to build infrastructure such as office buildings

The Lao Food Festival 2021 will be held in Vientiane at the end of Feb, promoting traditional Lao food and lifestyle

Savannakhet will partner with other southern provinces to arrange tours as part of the Lao Thiao Laos campaign. It will highlight the local ethnic groups, as well as their way of life. 2020 saw 144,000 visitors in total, a drop of 82% YoY

Laos has received a new batch of 300,000 doses of Sinopharm

Southern Laos Tourism has launched a new promotional video, filmed by Discover Laos Today

The Ministry of Tourism has stressed that more improvements are needed in the tourism industry to support Laos’ socio-economic development

Laos will support ASEAN’s plans to revive tourism, focusing on restoring capacity building between ASEAN, as well as links between ASEAN and Laos, ASEAN and Russia and other international organisations

UniqTek will partner with the state sector to teach government employees how to use high tech survey equipment to locate and survey heritage sites. This can be used to develop and improve tourist sites to attract more visitors

Xieng Khuang province’s tourism sector are still making losses, with very few guests. Local tourism stakeholders say that promoting local cultural events will help domestic tourism. In 2020, it welcomed 64,789 visitors, a drop from 2019’s 147,294 pax. 42,851 in 2020 were domestic tourists. The authorities expect 78,511 in 2021, 55,000 locals and the remaining international visitors. They are also working to develop cultural tourism sites

The government is looking at incoming air pax to wear an “out smart” bracelet which will track their movements and contacts

The Kapok festival in Tonpheung district, Bokeo province, has been cancelled for the 2nd year in a row

WeAreLao will soft launch its “Sustainable Tourism Laos: Showcase” campaign on 8 Feb, to promote Laos as a sustainable destination

Laos has seen more than 21.7 million international visitors from 2016-2020, an increase of 17.7% vs the previous five years. The Ministry of Tourism has said that more needs to be done, including strengthening land and air routes to targeted markets, as well as developing facilities at tourist attractions. They also said that their current marketing campaigns were not attractive enough and had missed many of the target markets. The number of hotels has increased by 4%, guesthouses and resorts by 3.6% and tour operators by 9.1%

Chom Ong cave in Oudoxmay province has been officially opened. It is said to be one of the longest in SE Asia at 16km

Champassak province has received just 117,000 visitors in 2020, down 90% YoY, but it continues to try to revive tourism and upgrade visitor attractions. Oudomxay province recorded 100,000 visitors, a drop of 40% YoY in 2020. The province is also looking to speed up improvements to its accommodation and organise new activities to attract visitors

The Vat Phou festival in Champassak province has been downsized

Attapeu Province is preparing lockdown if necessary after a case was detected in Champasack province

The Phathat Sikhottabong festival in Khammuan province from 26-29 Feb will be scaled down. Last year, 300,000 visitors came to the province, a drop of 30% YoY

Bokeo province’s Golden Triangle SEZ has been placed under a 2-week lockdown until 25 Jan after a Chinese worker tested positive

The Skills for Tourism Project have developed 2 guides to help vocational colleges, the “Good Practice Guide for Internships” and the “Education Enterprise Engagement Manual”

The National University of Laos has launched a new curriculum which will held the teaching of French and subjects related to tourism

Centara will open 2 new resorts in Vang Vieng, Laos, the Centra by Centara Riverside Resort Vang Vieng and the Thavisouk Riverside Resort & Spa Vang Vieng

Viengxay’s tourism facilities remain open, even though there are few visitors. The province aims to promote itself as a green destination

The 15th Elephant Festival in Xayaboury will be scaled down and held on just 1 day, 13 Feb

Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy National Protected Area in southern Laos will become a national park soon, and the private sector will be encouraged to develop ecotourism projects to generate income for locals, as well as to protect the forest

The Laos-China Railway has now completed 242km of track, and is expected to complete the tracks by May 2021

Laos is targeting $3.8 billion USD for the tourism industry over the next 5 years, with 15 million visitors once the pandemic is under control. If Laos does not have enough vaccines, it will aim for $1.5 billion USD and 6 million arrivals. The number of international arrivals to Laos in 2020 was estimated to be 980,000

Laos’ unemployment rate grew to 20% in 2020, a 10.6% increase vs 2017

Laos’ current PM, Thoungloun Sisoulith, has been elected Laos’ new secretary general during the 3-day congress

Several provinces are benefiting from the Lao Thiao Lao tourism campaign, with Oudomxay reporting 3,000 people visiting the province. Champassak province has also earned more revenue during the campaign

Laos has affirmed 6 new targets under the 9th Socio-economic Development Plan for 2021-2025: maintain steady economic growth, ensure people are better qualified with training, improve people’s living conditions, strengthen infrastructure and enhance efficiency of state management

Pakxong district in Champassak province is having a new urban design plan implemented

Vangvieng will speed up the development of its services and facilities, as well as add more activities at tourist sites

The Laos-China Railway stations should have their final embellishments in Mar/ Apr, ahead of the opening in Dec

Phu Bia Mountain will be developed as a sustainable tourist attraction, with the development of the site valued ay $500 million USD. It will include homestays, climbing, cycling and a 5* hotel

Visitors to Luang Prabang were down 68% YoY in 2020, with just 257,647 visitors. 142,435 were foreigners, whilst 133,212 were domestic

The National Eld’s Deer Sanctuary in Savannakhet Province is now open for tourists to stay overnight, with a forest tour and activities

Vang Vieng saw a fall of 60% in its visitors in 2020, and are aiming to attract 300,000 visitors in 2021. Despite the newly opened highway from Vientiane, occupancy remains high on the weekends only

Vientiane is planning to develop smart zones in the city, aiming to make the city more liveable

Construction of a 5th bridge linking Laos and Thailand has begun

Luang Prabang is set to build a new park in the city, adding more green space

Laos has received 2,000 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine from China, and has already started to vaccinate 200 volunteers as the 1st phase of its trials. Russia has also said it will provide 500 doses of the Sputnik V in early Jan

Bokeo has eased its travel restrictions to reduce the impact on tourism and the economy

There have been concerns raised over the safety of the main ferry operating between Luang Prabang and Chomphey District

The China-Laos railway tracks have now been extended from Vientiane to Luang Prabang

Vientiane plans 30 large-scale developments from now until 2025 to accelerate economic growth. Projects include a new international airport in Xaythany district, commercial parks and tourism-related projects

A proposed Lao PDR Tourism Recovery Roadmap has been released, concluding that “it is unrealistic that domestic tourism in the short term, will provide the cash flow to tourism businesses.” It suggest the reactivation of a national tourism board, as well as Intensify collaboration between the private sector and the government, deploy tourism loan packages, support tourism SME campaigns, facilitate infrastructure investments and strengthen the brand

20% of Laos’ population is expected to be vaccinated by mid-2021, with at-risk groups prioritised. They will receive the vaccine in Apr through COVAX

The fee structure for tests has now been adjusted, with foreigners, tourists and those planning to travel abroad for work being charged 1,200,000 LAK and hospital patients, civil servants and Lao students 50,000 LAK

The Vientiane – Vang Vieng expressway has now officially opened

Luang Prabang authorities have cancelled New Year celebrations, as well as Hmong and Khmu traditional festivals over fears of an outbreak

Laos is considering the Russian Sputnik V vaccine, after its certification in Russia

The Vang Vieng Music Fest has now been rescheduled, after the recent cancellation of the Vientiane International Marathon and the Foton Vientiane Half Marathon

Authorities are strengthening COVID-19 prevention measures in Bokeo province, with activities which require a large crowd to be banned

The government has said that Laos is at risk of a second wave due to the situations in neighbouring countries

The Vientiane – Vang Vieng Expressway will open on 20 Dec

The Skills for Tourism Project, a scheme to help Lao youth with vocational training for tourism, continues to be successful, even in the face of COVID-19

Laos is looking to focus on ecotourism and agritourism in 2021 to attract more foreign visitors from 2021 to 2025. The government has said that a wider variety of tourism products and activities must be available. The country’s Jan-Sep international visitors were down 74% YoY. One of the major challenges Laos faces is that road access to tourism sites is inadequate, and air and transport also remains unsatisfactory

Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos leaders approved the Tourism Development Plan for CLV Development Triangle Area 2020-2025, vision for 2030. This involves 13 provinces across the 3 countries being linked for tourism development, improving the quality of ecotourism, agrotourism, community-based tourism, adventure tourism and heritage

Laos has locked down Ton Pheung District in Bokeo Province after 2 Chinese nationals infected with COVID-19 entered illegally

The Vientiane to Vang Vieng expressway’s opening was delayed from its original 2 Dec date, to late Dec

Laos will suspend charter flights which are experiencing an outbreak of COVID-19. They will allow humanitarian flights, but passengers will not be able to transit through countries with COVID-19 outbreaks. It will continue to suspend its tourist visas until the end of the year

Laos’ hotel quarantine procedures have come under scrutiny, as sometimes people had contact with friends whilst in hotel quarantine, but it was not reported to health authorities. People staying in government-approved hotels must pay for their own stay

The Laos-China railway is scheduled to open in Dec 2021, but it may face delays due to villagers residing in areas allocated for the project, parts being stolen and illegal bridges being built over the tracks

Laos has extended its COVID-19 prevention protocols until 31 Dec, but will still allow in principle religious ceremonies, festivals, and entertainment venues

The Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism and Amazing Lao Sole Co., Ltd are partnering to boost sustainable tourism, planning a tourism consulting company who will provide advice to businesses considering investing in tourism. They also want to improve the standards of tourism workers, as well as develop a tourism marketing plan. They will run a tourism information campaign for both local and international tourists

Vang Vieng has had over 1.1 million visitors over the last 5 years, of which 700,000 were foreigners

Luang Prabang’s tourism industry has been hugely affected, with many hotels, restaurants and vars still closed

A committee has been formed by tourism businesses to create an event, “12 days in Luang Prabang”, with the goal to attract domestic tourists over Christmas and the New Year

The government has approved the Vang Vieng – Luang Prabang expressway, which will be 137km long and considerably reduce the travel time from 4-5 hours to just 90 mins

Laos has been added to the UK government’s travel corridor list

Vangvieng has launched a new Academy Training Hotel and Restaurant which will be used for students enrolled on tourism and hospitality courses. It is expected to support 90 students per year

The Laos government is discussing travel policies with Vietnam and Japan, as well as other ASEAN countries. It will suspend tourist visas and keep borders closed until 31 Dec

Laos has allowed bars and karaoke venues to reopen, but will continue other COVID-19 measurements until 31 Dec

Tourism entrepreneurs have called for the government to support them, suspending interest payments if possible

Vietnam and Laos have held bilateral talks where they discussed a need to reopen travel between the 2 of them and restart commercial flights, amongst other issues

Laos’ agreement for a fast-track immigration with China will begin on 1 Nov – Chinese nationals will need to test negative on arrival and to have been quarantined for 14 days in China prior to departure, as well as 48 hours on arrival in Laos. They will be permitted to enter via the Boten border gate, but it is a one-way agreement, with Laotians not permitted to enter China. A fast-track entry for Vietnam is expected to open a week later

Laos expects a 3.3% growth in GDP in 2020, despite COVID-19

Laos is set to start a fast-track immigration with China next week. Chinese nationals will have a shorter quarantine time (duration still under discussion), and they will be permitted to quarantine at home. They may also implement electronic devices to monitor the places which the travellers visit. They would also need to have a test prior to departure and on arrival. The same policy would later also apply to citizens from countries with no community cases

The planning of a new Special Economic Zone in Vang Vieng has now completed its feasibility study. It will include natural tourism sites to attract international visitors and expects to create 27,800 jobs

Luang Prabang will invest into visitor facilities at attractions, as well as a promotional domestic tourism campaign. The upgrades to attractions will in some cases include facilities for disabled travellers. It will also run a cycling tour with 200 cyclists to promote sustainable tourism. Luang Prabang has received 420,000 tourists this year, down 64% from its target

The That Luang Festival in Vientiane will be smaller this year, focusing on religious traditions rather than carnivals, market stalls and performances

The Luang Prabang Film Festival will take place virtually this year from 4-10 Dec

Tourism businesses are cutting their prices to make travel more affordable for local Laotians. The Luang Prabang Chamber of Commerce and Industry has said that in some cases, prices have reduced by more than 3 times, as well as extra perks. An initial survey showed that region’s tourism businesses had lost $20 million USD

China and Laos discussed a fast-track immigration policy, allowing Chinese tourists certain privileges, particularly for diplomatic, technical and essential workers, during a trip from the Chinese Foreign Minister to Laos

The National Taskforce will allow returning residents to complete quarantine in their homes or places of employment instead of designated centres. They must first wait 48 hours on arrival for their test results to come back negative. Tour groups must carry certification of a 14-day pre-flight quarantine, and a negative test result to be allowed entry

The Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism will ensure talented young people are put up for promotion

A 5-day media fam trip is being run to promote the Lao Thiao Lao domestic tourism campaign. It will uncover destinations throughout the country in northern Oudomxay and Luang Prabang provinces

Zipline and bridges are being build at Phou Pha Marn, to develop the destination into a visitor attraction. Cabins and treehouses will also be built

Tour operators who wish to bring in tour groups to the country from destinations with no community outbreak of COVID-19 must seek permission from the Taskforce Committee

The government has stressed that entertainment venues should remain closed, and that strict compliance with prevention measures is still necessary

China has opened an additional expressway to the Lao border to strengthen regional connectivity

The Lao National Museum opened in its new location on 6 Oct

Nakai-Nam Theun National Park is being looked at as a model for ecotourism in Laos

The cabinet has agreed to holding the annual festival to celebrate the end of Buddhist Lent. The government also announced that the closure of entertainment and karaoke venues will continue until 31 Oct

The government has agreed in principle to allow tour groups to visit Laos from countries where there are no community cases. It has also agreed in principle to resume charter flights with countries that have no outbreak. They are also continuing discussions with China and Vietnam for fast-track immigration policies. Quarantine will also be relaxed for those arriving from countries with no community outbreak, who will only need to be tested and wait 48 hours for the results – they will then be able to quarantine at home or in a place arranged by their employer. A basic fee for tests will also be implemented

Security has been increased for the Boat Racing Festival this weekend

Hundreds of foreigners are still stuck in Laos

The Boat Racing Festival in Vientiane will take place this year, but at a smaller scale to usual, from 1-3 Oct

Lao Airlines has now introduced new freight prices, to give people more choice

Luang Prabang’s hotels have lowered rates to attract domestic tourists

Laos has seen its rating by Fitch drop from B- to CCC, indicating that it faces a substantial credit risk, and that default is a possibility. Sovereign nations do not typically have CCC ratings

The Eastin Hotel Vientiane Laos is set to open in Q4 2021

The first train station along the Laos – China railway has been completed, the Nateuy Station

Huayxai airport expansion is 60% complete and scheduled for completion mid-2021

The Vientiane – Vang Vieng expressway is expected to open in Dec

The Lao Thiao Lao (Laos travel Lao) was launched on 11 Sep, with public and private ministries co-financing a tourism marketing campaign. It will be predominantly online, focused on inspiring younger travellers’ sense of adventure

STR has revealed that whilst Laos hotels have not returned to high occupancy levels, the trend is at least positive

Vietnam expects to resume commercial flights to Laos and Cambodia from 22 Sep. Passengers will need to have a negative certificate prior to departure, and will be tested on arrival twice. Foreign passengers will need to pay for all quarantine and testing, as well as install the app Bluezone

Chomphet and Pak-ou districts in Luang Prabang have now completed infrastructure improvements to help tourism promotion

The Deputy Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism has said that the growth of domestic tourism has not been strong, but he is optimistic that if factories resume work, increasing employment, that people will travel more. He also said that the private sector needs to develop new tourism products

The Vat Meuang Kang temple in Champassak province will be renovated to attract more tourists. It is thought to be the oldest active temple in Laos

Laos has tested over 40,000 people since Jan, the Ministry of Health has revealed

The Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry has said that the slump in tourism was affecting both businesses but also potential income for local people. If the outbreak continues, it could lose more than $500 million USD in tourism revenue, equivalent to 2.7% GDP. H1 saw international visitors decline by 60% YoY

COVID-19 will increase the poverty levels due to job losses and rising costs. Unemployment is set to increase to 20% in 2020

Laos’ inflation remains high, according to the Laos Statistics Bureau, at 5.12%

The Lao Thiew Lao campaign has now launched its own Facebook page dedicated to showcasing the country and offer from the tourism industry

Laos and Japan have agreed to open their borders to one another for expatriate and long-term residents as early as Sep. Travellers must stay at home or at a designated place after arriving for 14 days. Laotian students with Japanese government scholarships will also be allowed entry as soon as possible. Japan also pledged $18 million USD to refurbish schools in Laos. They will also speed up talks to allow essential business travel

Laos’ Hin Nam Ho Karst National Protection Area hopes to gain UNESCO World Heritage status by 2022, as a trans-boundary extension to the World Heritage Site of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in Vietnam

The launch of a new Hmong culture park at the end of Nov is anticipated, with 80% of construction already completed. It will include a camping ground, restaurant serving local fare and an experience of the Hmong culture

Nakai-Nam Theun National Park will join the IUCN Global Green List, meaning that its nature conservation efforts are recognised under an international standard

Laos has detected another 2 imported cases of COVID-19

The US has added Laos to its list of “very low risk” destinations for COVID-19, lifting its Do Not Travel advisory for the country

: Lower and upper secondary school students are being urged to apply for tourism and hospitality courses at Technical Vocational Education Training institutions. All educational offerings have been compiled into one Facebook page, as part of a national online campaign to highlight the benefits of working in the industry, as it is one of the priority sectors for the Laotian government

Lao Zoo is being renovated to include a wildlife education program and upgraded animal enclosures, and will be open in 2021

Ecotourism in Nam Et-Phou Louey National Park in Northern Laos is proving to be a model for ecotourism in the country, as it supports 2,000 households

Laos is considering implementing fast-tracks for Vietnam and China. According to reports, this could allow certain individuals, such as diplomatic staff, technical experts and foreign labour to enter with the waiving of the 14-day quarantine period

62 tour guides have qualified from the government’s training programme

LaoBuild 2020, Lao Food & Hotel 2020 and LaoCafe 2020 exhibitions have all been postponed to 17-19 Jun 2021

Exo Travel and Lao Airlines have partnered to create great deals for the domestic market under the Lao Thiew Laos campaign

The launch of the new Heritage Line luxury cruise ship Anouvong has been postponed to 2021

Laos has now suspended all chartered flights as well as scheduled flights until 31 Aug, with tourist visas remaining suspended. Lockdown measures will also be extended until 31 Aug

Achieving the initial target of 4.7 million international arrivals is now impossible in 2020, according to the government. The Tourism Marketing Department will hold a workshop to discuss with local operators the Laos visit Lao domestic tourism campaign

Laos’s international arrivals dropped by 60% YoY to just 886,447 visitors for H1. Unemployment levels in general has increased to 25%

Laos has detected its 20th case of COVID-19, this time from a quarantined Korean business traveller. Authorities are calling it a one-off, and not evidence of community transmission

Japan announced that it is looking at relaxing entry restrictions for business travellers from 12 Asian territories, including Singapore, Cambodia, Brunei, Malaysia, Myanmar and Laos from SE Asia. Travellers would still need to self-quarantine for 14-days, pass a COVID test and not take public transportation

Tour guides in Luang Prabang are being badly affected, as whilst tourism is returning and tourists are booking hotels, guest houses and visiting local attractions, locals do not feel the need to book a guide

Vientiane has revised its target for international tourists to 685,600 from an initial 2 million. H1 recorded 485,600 visitors

Laos is keeping its borders closed to foreigners, and will only allow foreign technical experts, diplomats, medical tourists and students to travel out from the country

A new border gate may be opened between Laos’ Attapeu Province and Cambodia’s Ratanakiri Province, and officials say that this could strengthen tourism as currently there is no road connecting the province with Laos

Champassak region has received just 100,000 domestic and international tourists in H1. It targeted receiving 1 million visitors this year

Cambodia is constructing new checkpoints along the Cambodia-Thailand-Lao PDR border areas

14 Jul: The ADB has released a brief on the state of tourism enterprises within Laos, with some key findings: • Half of enterprises surveyed were temporarily closed in May 2020 • 78% of tourism businesses in Louangphabang were closed • 70% of businesses had reduced employees, with number of employees falling by 38% • Larger enterprises who primarily served the international markets have been worse affected • The majority of tourism businesses favoured tax relief (84.8%) and cash transfers (68.7%). 63.5% also believed that entry fees for attractions should be waived for 1 year >>

Xaysomboun will develop new tourist sites, with developers planning a new site in Anouvong District which would cost around $500 million USD. Environmental conservation measures would also be taken into account

The Tad Tontaen waterfall in Borikhamxay province will be developed as a natural tourism attraction, as a feasibility study is underway

Laos and Vietnam have committed to cooperate with each other, pledging to open air routes at the earliest possible time

The building of the Vientiane Station on the Laos-China Railway started on 3 Jul

A “Lao Visit Laos” scheme is being rolled out to encourage domestic tourism. It will start in Jul and be run by the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Hotel and Restaurant Association. Their aim is to make information readily available online about attractions, accommodation and restaurants. It will be a permanent project

The government confirmed that international borders will be closed except to Lao citizens and foreigners with good reason, and tourist and visitor visas will continue to be suspended. They will also relax further some lockdown restrictions, with sports competitions, casinos and some social gatherings to be allowed to resume, so long as guidelines are followed on COVID-19 prevention. Entertainment venues, such as karaoke bars, and gaming shops, will remain closed

Laos has seen full bookings for Vang Vieng from domestic tourists travelling from Vientiane

Tourist numbers dropped by 17% from Jan-May, with just 886,440 tourists. The number of people using air and ground transport dropped by more than 90%. Arrivals from China dropped 16%, whilst from Thailand dropped 5%

The government will introduce more measures to encourage domestic travel, focusing on removing impediments to travel, standards of transportation and renovation of tourism sites in a draft plan. Tourism earnings of $450,000 USD were lost in Jan – Feb 2020

The Xieng Khouang Airport administration and operations has been handed over to the Lao Armed Forces. It will continue to work with the Department of Civil Aviation to develop the airport and increase passenger numbers

Chao Anouvong Park will be renovated to attract more tourists

The Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone has proposed building a $150 million USD international airport, capable of receiving A320 and B737 aircraft. If approved, building could take just 18 months

Champassak and Savannakhet provinces will benefit from a new joint project to preserve its heritage, with the CHAMPA project to boost their positions as tourist destinations

Champassak province embarked on a program to attract more domestic tourists

Employers can register with the Lao Social Security Organisation (LSS) to request financial assistance for unemployed or reduced working days staff. This would provide up to 60% support of their salary

Laos is facing surges in the price for essential foods

Laos has declared victory over COVID-19 as all confirmed cases are discharged from hospital and no new cases have been detected for 59 days

More tourism sites may be established in Oudomxay, with 5 new sites under consideration

Xaysomboun may soon have new tourism sites after a government meeting. The first phase from 2020-2025 will see hiking, zip lining, camping and mountain climbing activities developed

The Chom Ong caves in Oudomxay will open soon to tourists

The Myanmar Deputy Minister of Hotels and Tourism said that the Myanmar government will work together with Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam to introduce regional tourism, with the 4 countries signing an agreement to ease border access between them, although specific details have not yet been released

All school classes will resume on 15 Jun. From 2 Jun, night markets, restaurants and cinemas can reopen

Students, Lao citizens, experts and diplomats are allowed to enter and exit Laos with authorisation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Laos and China will organise joint training courses for tourism workers, teaching tour guides basic Chinese and developing skills so that Chinese tourists can have their needs met. They also agreed to bolster 2-way tourism

Laos and China will organise joint training courses for tourism workers, teaching tour guides basic Chinese and developing skills so that Chinese tourists can have their needs met. They also agreed to bolster 2-way tourism

Authorities announced they will start to reopen international borders with neighbouring countries (China, Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand), but foreigners would only be permitted to enter should they have the appropriate authorisation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The Lao tourism board may be established again, according to the President of the LNCCI, in a webinar hosted by Austcham Lao PDR

Domestic travel is now permitted in Laos

Laos eased its lockdown restrictions from 15 May. Businesses and government agencies are allowed to reopen from 18 May, and transport and interprovince movement is allowed again. Schools will be reopened from 18 May in phases. Indoor and outdoor sporting activities are allowed to take place. However, night markets, beer shops, nightclubs, karaokes, casinos and cinemas will remain closed. Gatherings for weddings and cultural events are limited to 50 pax

Laos will allow restaurants, shopping centres, retail and service businesses to reopen on Mon 04 May, but people must wear face masks outside and keep social distancing. This will continue until 17 May, but should new infections be detected in 2 provinces, lockdown will be implemented once more

Laos’ Q1 domestic and foreign visitors totalled 886,440, representing a 17% downturn YoY, with more than $450,000 USD lost in the first two months of 2020

The Lao Hotel and Restaurant Association met with the government to convey their concerns and issues, many of which will take a long time to resolve

Lockdown extended by 14 days until 03 May

Tourism businesses will have a tax deferral for 3 months from April, the government announced, as part of fiscal measures to help the economy

Laos will be under lockdown, with international and interprovincial borders closed to all travellers from 30 Mar to 19 Apr

Laos could lose up to $20 - 25 million USD from travel cancellations. However, this is likely to increase if other tourists also stop visiting the country