THE LAOS government has told its Tourism Ministry to work with local authorities around the country to prepare for the reopening of tourism sector under "new normal" conditions.
The decision to reopen the tourism sector was made during a cabinet meeting and Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh also instructed the relevant sectors to prepare for the opening of the Laos-China railway line in December.
Phankham told the transport and tourism ministries to work together in reopening the tourism sector under the new normal as appropriate in each locality and in accordance with the conditions of the Covid-19 pandemic there.
With the Laos-China railway line also due to open in December, the government felt the conditions were ripe for a careful reopening of tourism in Laos in 2022.
The Laotian Times reports that the announcement was welcomed by the tourism industry in the country as the sector had grinded to a halt since April due to the pandemic.
The news has also renewed hopes of recovery to the industry players since the second wave of Covid-19 spread across the nation during the Lao New Year holiday in April.
With all provinces under lockdown by May, airlines were grounded and bus stations closed, leaving the tour operators no choice but to close down.
The closure happened just as the Lao Thiao Lao domestic tourism campaign had begun making headway in the country.
The domestic tourism campaign was launched in September last year with largely online promotions that aimed to promote some of the special tourism packages.
It had also targeted young Lao people's sense of adventure with packages tailored to the age group.
The plan to reopen tourism comes as the government targets to vaccinate 50 per cent of the population by year's end.
Lockdown measures have also been relaxed with interprovincial travel allowed and airlines and bus companies are operating again under strict Covid-19 guidelines for passengers.
Vientiane has also seen almost two weeks without any community spread of Covid-19 in the city.
Laos has so far administered more than 1.1 million doses of vaccine, with almost 44 per cent of Vientiane population vaccinated.
Deputy Director General of the Department of Communicable Disease Control, Dr Phonepaseuth Xayamoungkhoun said on Thursday that there were 241 new Covid-19 cases in the country, bringing the total number of cases to 5,675.
Only 2,082 Covid-19 test were carried out over the last 24 hours.
Vientiane had 12 imported cases, while Khammouane province recorded three imported cases.
Savannakhet saw 143 imported cases, Champasack had 48 imported cases and Salavanh recorded 34 imported cases.
Laos saw 3,057 people entering the country yesterday. There are 9,635 people in quarantine in 58 quarantine centres and 44 quarantine hotels in the country.
Laos now has 2,691 active cases and has recorded six deaths due to Covid-19.