Covid outbreak a stumbling block for tourism ministry

The Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism achieved some of its goals last year but was unable to meet other targets because of the Covid-19 outbreak.
This was the summary of a meeting to review the ministry’s work in 2021 and endorse plans for 2022.
The nationawide meeting took place from February 10-11 and was chaired by the Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Mrs Suanesavanh Vignaket.
The gathering was an important opportunity for the ministry’s leaders to share their ideas on plans for 2022.

Mrs Suanesavanh said the ministry’s main success had been in the media field, with reporters continuing to provide useful, clear, fast and factual information to the public.
In the areas of culture and tourism, work had developed and improved, but some goals had not been met because of the Covid-19 outbreak, she said.
In a bid to rejuvenate tourism, the government decided to reopen the country to foreign tourists this year.
Although few foreign nationals have come to Laos, tourism is booming thanks to travel by local people, with most going to Luang Prabang, Oudomxay and Vientiane provinces.
The Governor of Vangvieng district in Vientiane province, Mr Bounchan Malavong, said at least 3,000 Lao visitors had been coming to the district each week.
However, no foreign tourists had arrived, despite the fact that the district had been classified as a green travel zone by the government, designating it as an authorised area of travel.
Vangvieng is popular for its riverside activities, such as kayaking, tubing and boat trips.
There are also zip-lines to be enjoyed and numerous caves to explore, while the clear mountain water creates lagoons and waterfalls.
District authorities have improved local infrastructure, created new tourism products and carried out checks on the price of services and food.
Hotels and guesthouses have been inspected and those considered to be substandard have not been allowed to reopen.
Authorities in Luang Prabang province have also readied facilities for visitors and last month more than 22,000 people visited the popular Tad Khuangxi waterfall, according to the Luang Prabang News.
Last year, Deputy Prime Minister Dr Sonexay Siphandone told the National Assembly he hoped the Lao Thiao Lao campaign would attract at least 1.9 million domestic visitors and more than one million foreign visitors in 2022.
Nationals of China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Republic of Korea, Japan, France, UK, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Italy, USA, Canada, Australia, Brunei, Indonesia, the Philippines, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Israel, Austria, New Zealand, Poland, Denmark and Belgium are now allowed to enter Laos for the purposes of tourism.

By Times Reporters
 (Latest Update February 11, 2022)