More than two years into the pandemic, Laos has reopened its international borders, which had been closed for two years due to global uncertainty surrounding the virus.
The Southeast Asian country reopened to all tourists and visitors on May 9, 2022, a little over two years after the country imposed strict travel restrictions to combat the pandemic and reduce the spread of the virus.On Saturday, Thipphakone Chanthavongsa, head of the country’s government agency to control COVID-19, reportedly announced the reopening date – the final step in their three-phase plan channel news asia.
Laos reopens to tourists — here’s what we know
Whether they are Lao citizens or international travelers, anyone wishing to enter the country will need a certificate of vaccination or a test for the COVID-19 virus, Chanthavongsa said.according to abc newsthese rules apply to passengers over the age of 12 who do not hold proof of vaccination and need to show a negative ATK test taken within 48 hours of departure.
What’s more, in the three-stage opening plan, Laos has also eased restrictions on entertainment venues such as karaoke parlors, as long as they comply with COVID-19 regulations.
Laos is one of the latest countries to reopen to tourists, although vaccination and testing regulations have been put in place. The country received some 4.79 million foreign tourists in 2019 before the pandemic swept the world. Media reports said that number dropped sharply in 2020 before borders closed and the world went into lockdown.
According to reports, the National Vientiane Times The newspaper’s website quoted Deputy Health Minister Snong Thongsna as saying that the decision to reopen international borders was based on the decline in COVID-19 cases in Laos and other parts of the world, with the average number of new infections now dropping to less than 200 countries.
Although one of the poorest countries in Asia, Laos has some amazing natural beauty and cultural sites, which help to attract tourists. The reopening of borders will boost people’s confidence to travel back into the country.
(Hero and featured image credit: Yosi Bitran/Unsplash)
