News (1)
Laos reopens
for tourism from 1 January 2022 in three phases
Laos has officially announced it will reopen for tourism on 1 January 2022, providing more information on travel conditions during and a press conference held by the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism and Lao National Tourism Authority at the Lao National Convention Center on 17 December 2021 provides more information on the travel conditions.
According
to the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism, the borders reopening of Laos
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.
News (2)
Group tourists from Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia etc enter Laos in Phase I
According
to the ministry, group 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.
The
tourists must participate in tours arranged by authorized tour operators under
the Lao Travel Green Zone Plan.
Tourists will be required to have been fully vaccinated against covid
within 14 days prior to arrival. Other conditions include a health
insurance policy with coverage no less than US$50,000 and a negative RT-PCR
test taken within the last 72 hours before departure.
Arrivals
will be tested for covid 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 test results.
News (3)
Tourists must travel within travel
zones and travel trails
Under
the reopening scheme, tourists are 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 including 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
Lao Ministry of Health has stated that it will improve the quality of
quarantine centres, treatment centres 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.
News (4)
More international borders reopen in Phase II
During
Phase I, 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.
More
borders will reopen in Phase II, 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.
News (5)
All Lao tourism establishments
must be certified safe and clean
All
tourism establishments in the zones must 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.
News (6)
Procedures for tour companies
announced
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.
News (7)
No information yet on returnees
and foreign residents returning to 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.
News (8)
Lao Airlines operates second relief flight to Singapore on 20 December 2021
Lao Airlines operates relief flights from Singapore and Suvarnabhumi to Vientiane. Lao Airlines' second relief flight is carried out on 20 December 2021 with flight QV553 arriving in Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 3 at 12.14 pm and departing from Terminal 3 Gate A4 at estimated time 1 pm under flight QV554 for Vientiane.
Lao Airlines' first relief flight to Singapore is operated on 1 December 2021.
Lao Airlines has resumed domestic flights between Vientiane and Pakse, Luang Prabang, among other Lao cities and towns while Lao Skyway maintains its domestic flight network.
Ref: https://laotiantimes.com/2021/12/17/laos-announces-travel-conditions-for-2022-reopening
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