Laos Steps Up Efforts to Prevent Coronavirus Outbreak

Laos Steps Up Efforts to Prevent Coronavirus Outbreak

Laos has announced that it will set up a task force committee to tackle the spread of the new coronavirus that originated in Wuhan, China.

The task force will assess the impact of an outbreak of such a virus in Laos, although no case has yet been confirmed in the country.

In particular, the task force will conduct inspections in at-risk locations such as ports of entry, transport stations, hospitals, and markets, while arranging specialized healthcare service points across the country.

It will also collect travel data and follow up the health status of travelers, especially tourists, students, business people and workers traveling from China.

In addition, the task force plans to study and draw up a plan to address the potential impact on Chinese workers engaging in projects in Laos.

It will also regulate the price of protective equipment, such as face masks, gloves, and protective clothing while arranging a budget for necessary expenditure.

Lastly, the task force will publicize ways to prevent the virus, check for symptoms and obtain treatment, via media outlets.

The country’s flagship airline, Lao Airlines, announced that it will temporarily cancel all flights from Vientiane to three destinations in China, namely Changzhou, Shanghai, and Hangzhou, as part of precautions in the wake of the virus outbreak.

As of January 29, no cases were confirmed in Laos, and there is also no report of a confirmed case among Lao nationals living in foreign countries including China.

~The Laotian Times~

Lucky Air flies New Route from Kunming to Luang Prabang and Vientiane

Lucky Air flies New Route from Kunming to Luang Prabang and Vientiane



China’s low-cost carrier Lucky Air has launched its first route that connects China’s city of Kunming to the Lao city of Luang Prabang and the capital Vientiane.

The two flights, which began on December 22, are scheduled on Wednesdays and Sundays, departing from Kunming at 3:35 pm. The return flight departs from Luang Prabang at 5:30 pm.

Separately, flights from Kunming to Vientiane depart at 8 pm, while those from Vientiane to the Chinese city leave at 10 pm. Tickets are available at around THB 7,000 (USD 232).

Kunming-based airliner Lucky Air, which was established in 2004, is the latest foreign carrier that launched a new route to Laos.

South Korea’s T’way Air announced in early December that it would launch a new route connecting the Korean city of Daegu and Vientiane.

Meanwhile, Singaporean airliner Scoot also launched new routes in April connecting Singapore to Luang Prabang and Vientiane.

Laos saw more than 3.4 million international visitors in the first nine months of this year, an 11 percent increase from the same period of last year.

Among them, the number of visitors from China soared by 26 percent, according to the Tourism Development Department, Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism.

The department projected that more than 1 million Chinese visitors would visit Laos in 2019.

~The Laotian Times~

Happy New Year 2020