Laos to reopen its borders to international visitors on January 1

[reader]

From MSN

Laos has announced plans to partially re-open its borders to foreign visitors in the new year.

The South-East Asian country has been closed to international arrivals for more than 18 months, in an attempt to curb the spread of Covid-19.

Fully vaccinated visitors on pre-booked tours will be able to enter Laos from January 1 and visit a select number of destinations, including the capital Vientiane, eco-tourism hotspot Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang, a Unesco World Heritage-listed site in the north of the country.

Further destinations will be opened in April and July as vaccination rates in Laos increase. For now, entry will be limited to tourists from 17 countries, predominantly in South-East Asia and Europe, as well as the US, Australia and Canada. All arrivals will need to test negative for Covid-19 before their journey.

Vaccination rates in the country are expected to be bolstered by the recent opening of a railway connecting Vientiane to the south-western Chinese city of Kunming. The $6 billion rail link was hailed as a "new era of modern infrastructure development” by Laos President Thongloun Sisoulith, and health authorities are already working to deliver Covid booster shots to people living in tourist spots along the train line.

https://www.msn.com/en-ae/news/other/laos-to-reopen-its-borders-to-international-visitors-on-january-1/ar-AARXwxt

 

 

[vinapu]

too bad it's for pre-booked trips only but I understand it's first step and further relaxation will follow.