Laos steps up preparations for expected Chinese tourists

The Laotian government and tourism enterprises are stepping up efforts to improve tourism facilities and service quality in order to prepare for the expected arrival of a large number of Chinese tourists, as the outbound travel of Chinese citizens has resumed following the relaxation of China's COVID-19 policies.

"We are working with travel agencies, hotels and other tourism-related businesses to improve facilities and services in preparation for the return of Chinese tour groups," said Darany Phommavongsa, director general of the Tourism Management Department of the Laotian Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism.

The government is working with tourism companies to improve facilities and design tourism projects to attract more Chinese tourists to Laos, he said.

Vientiane Times reported that large numbers of of Chinese tourists will visit ASEAN countries this year. Many of them will choose to travel on the China-Laos Railway connecting Kunming, China and Vientiane, the capital of Laos.

Inthira Group operates a number of well-known service brands in Laos. President of Inthira Group Inthy Deuansavanh, who has been in the hospitality sector over 20 years, said that since China has resumed outbound group travel, it will bring a large number of Chinese visitors to Laos.

"We look forward to the return of Chinese tourists. Traveling to Laos will be more convenient because of the operation of the Laos-China Railway," he said.

He added that the company has opened a new department with Chinese-speaking staff and plans to cooperate with Chinese tourism companies and social networking sites in the hope of attracting customers.

Somphet Maopaseuth, president of Forestry Area Conservation Ecological Tourism, hopes to transform challenges into opportunities and develop green and sustainable tourism projects.

He said Laos has geographical advantages. It borders China, which is one of the world’s largest outbound tourism markets, and the Laos-China Railway facilitates tourist travel. We need to prepare tourism facilities and products, and cultivate talents in the service industry, he noted.

The Laotian government considers tourism as a priority for its economic growth, hoping tourism will make greater contributions to its economic development.