Hainan United Airlines and the Lao Tourism Promotion Department put the wheels in motion for a new route between Hainan, China, and Vientiane and Luang Prabang.
The Vientiane Times reported that an agreement signed on 21 May between the two countries calls for a flight departing from Vientiane to Haikou City in Hainan on Wednesdays and Sundays, and from Luang Prabang on Fridays. No launch date was given for the new routes.
Deputy Director of the Haikou Tourism Development Commission, Wen Delin, pointed out that the island province of Hainan welcomes flights from Macau and Hong Kong, two destinations without direct Lao flights.
Flight time between Haiku and Laos is 90 minutes.
Deputy Director General of the Lao Tourism Promotion Department, Sengsouda Vanthanouvong, said the new flight route was an additional milestone in further promoting tourism between the two countries.
According to the Hainan tourism sector, the number of Chinese nationals travelling to Laos is increasing every year but the number of people going from Laos to Hainan is small in comparison.
The Vientiane Times also reported that Lao Airlines expects to begin direct flights between Luang Prabang province and Changsha in Hunan Province starting in June.
