Recently, the Lao Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism discussed plans to fully open the country in May. The procedures for allowing tourists to enter the country will be the same as before the Covid-19 pandemic, with the addition of a certificate of full Covid-19 vaccination, with a negative test result before entering the country to avoid medical quarantine.
Specifically, from May 15, international visitors, including Vietnamese, when coming to Laos must have two doses of vaccine at least 14 days before entering the country, or a certificate of recovery from Covid-19. All visitors, including children under 5 years old, do not need to take a PCR test before entering Laos. Those who have not been vaccinated are required to have a PCR test within 72 hours and a rapid test upon arrival in Laos.
Upon arrival in Laos, visitors must undergo a rapid test, but the waiting time for results should not exceed one hour. In case of a positive result, they must comply with the prescribed epidemic prevention measures. In case of not being fully vaccinated, even if the result is negative, they will still be quarantined for 7 days.
Laos is expected to fully reopen in May. Photo: Internet
Visitors must purchase health or life insurance with a minimum coverage of $10,000. In addition, it is necessary to comply with epidemic prevention regulations, including wearing masks in public places, keeping distance, regularly washing hands with soap and disinfectant; monitoring health, and testing immediately if any symptoms of Covid-19 appear. If the result is positive, visitors must notify the accommodation facility so that the hotel can notify the local health department.
Ms. Phonepaserd Xayyamuongkhoun, Deputy Director of the Department of Communicable Disease Control, Lao Ministry of Health, said that the number of Covid-19 cases in Laos has shown a sharp decrease, which is due to the good cooperation of the people in implementing measures to prevent and control the Covid-19 epidemic; at the same time, the rate of people having access to the Covid-19 vaccine is high. This is a positive signal for the plan to open tourism in phase 2 and towards the goal of full opening in the near future.
The decision to fully reopen is one of the policies to attract tourists to Laos, solve national economic difficulties, create more jobs and improve income for local people after being heavily affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
