Laos has lowered the visa fees for Chinese tourists from USD14 to USD10 to make it easier for them to travel to the country, Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Dr Bosengkham Vongdara said at a recent tourism promotion meeting in Shanghai.
Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Dr Bosengkham Vongdara
Dr Bosengkham added that the Lao government is printing tourism brochures in Chinese and adding Chinese language to signs at tourist attractions.
Lao Airlines has boosted flights to China over the past couple of years, as has Chinese airlines, including China Eastern, China Southern, Sichuan Airline and Hainan Airlines.
According to the Vientiane Times, Lao Airlines recently began operating three flights a week from Vientiane to Shanghai, though their internet site does not yet show the route.
Chinese officials said Laos has a good climate, beautiful scenery, and is peaceful. They added the country is a “paradise” for Chinese visitors seeking adventure, and is unique in Southeast Asia, which appeals to the Chinese.
According to statistics from the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, China accounted for more than 800,000 tourists in 2018, an increase of 26% over the previous year.
Source: Vientiane Times
