VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/Asia News Network) – Authorities are working closely with hospitality businesses and tour operators to welcome foreign tourists after the country’s full reopening from March 9.
The Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism on Monday ordered its provincial departments to work with relevant sectors to adequately prepare for the arrival of tourists.
The ministry encourages hospitality companies to participate in LaoSafe – an initiative that assesses and certifies business service standards to inspire customer confidence.
The ministry also calls for information about entry and exit rules to be disseminated among tourists so that they are familiar with the requirements, understand the changes and can make the necessary preparations.
Under the country’s new entry and exit rules announced by the government, visitors are no longer required to take an RT-PCR test before departure and Covid-19 insurance is now not required. An ATK test at border crossings is also not required if visitors are fully vaccinated. Instead, they only have to show a vaccination card.
Quarantine and registration on the Lao Green Pass website “laogreenpass.gov.la” to certify vaccination status and an RT-PCR test result are also no longer mandatory.
Nationals of countries that have signed bilateral or unilateral visa waiver agreements with Laos no longer need to apply for a visa. Instead, visas can be purchased upon arrival in Laos and e-visas (electronic visas) can be applied for online.
Persons who have not been fully vaccinated must take a Covid-19 ATK test within 48 hours prior to departure for Laos, with the exception of children under the age of 12.
In order to reach and attract more foreign tourists, the ministry called on all hospitality and tourism businesses to promote their services and products, while the media will launch an advertising campaign.
Following the government’s announcement to reopen the country, international border crossings have been reopened.
On Monday morning – the first day of full reopening – at least 100 people crossed the first Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge from Vientiane to Thailand. The bridge is the main land border crossing between Vientiane and Nong Khai province in Thailand.
In the other direction, nearly 300 people crossed the bridge from Thailand to Laos.
Meanwhile, Lao Airlines — the national airline — plans to increase flights between Vientiane and Bangkok from two to three a week starting May 22. The airline also plans to increase flights to Incheon International Airport in the Republic of Korea.
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