Laos looking forward to return of Chinese tourists

Friday, February 10, 2023

Laos is looking forward to welcoming back Chinese tourists after China optimized its COVID-19 response.

The Laos government and private sectors are preparing for the arrival of Chinese tourists after it was listed among countries greenlit by the Chinese government for outbound group tours.

Darany Phommavongsa, director general of the Tourism Management Department of the Lao Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, told the media last Friday that they are working in partnership with travel agencies, hotels and other tourism-related businesses to improve facilities and services in readiness for the return of Chinese tour groups.

They held a meeting with private companies to discuss ways to improve facilities and design activities to entice more Chinese visitors to Laos.

President of Inthira Group Inthy Deuansavanh, who has been in the hospitality sector for almost 25 years, told a news agency on Tuesday that tourism in Laos was severely damaged by the COVID-19 pandemic due to the absence of foreign tourists.

Since China resumed outbound group travel to countries including Laos, Inthy believed that it will bring a large number of Chinese visitors to Laos.

The local tourism businesses need to get ready to attract and welcome back inbound tourists. One of the most important things is that we need to promote our outstanding tourist attractions, especially nature-based tourism, to reach our target customers as much as possible.

Inthy said tourism-related businesses must improve their services and make sure that customers can easily get access to their products.

He strongly believes that China’s resumption of outbound group tours after the optimization of its COVID-19 response will be a strong boost to revitalize Laos’ economy and tourism.

Anyone who wants to explore rich natural resources and biodiversity will never get disappointed when traveling to Laos, Inthy said, adding that Laos is also a fascinating destination for anyone seeking cultural immersion and outstanding eco-tourism.

In October 2021, the Lao Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism launched the Lao Tourism Recovery Roadmap for 2021-2025, which aims to support the recovery of the tourism sector in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak.

One of the three main policy options in the roadmap is the greening of tourism for environmental friendliness and better long-term recovery.

With its rich natural resources and biodiversity, Laos can offer an opportunity to promote nature-based tourism for sustainable and inclusive growth which will lead to green jobs and livelihood opportunities, thereby attaining green recovery and green growth.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Somphet Maopaseuth, President of Forestry Area Conservation Ecological Tourism, endeavored to transform challenges into opportunities.

Tourism experts predict that millions of Chinese tourists will visit ASEAN countries and many of them will travel on the China-Laos Railway, which runs from Kunming, the capital of southwest China’s Yunnan province, to Vientiane.

Meanwhile, Lao Airlines plans to operate more flights in response to the expected influx of Chinese visitors. The airline currently operates three flights a week from the Lao capital Vientiane to China’s Kunming.

It is set to launch additional flights from Vientiane to the Chinese cities of Guangzhou, Shanghai, Chengdu, Changzhou, and Hangzhou.

The airline also mulls increasing flights from the northern Luang Prabang province and the southern Champasak province to China.

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