LaoSafe Helps To Reopen Laos, Launches Destination Video [Travel and Tourism Reopening]

VIENTIANE, LAOS - LaoSafe has certified more than 100 tourism businesses and helped to make Laos currently one of the most open Southeast Asian countries for international tourists.

The success of the LaoSafe initiative has boosted confidence both inside and outside the country, paving the way for the arrival of international travellers.

Laos is now open to both vaccinated travellers and those who are not vaccinated but have tested negative for the Covid-19 virus. While restorative measures still apply in other countries, Laos has moved quickly to simplify the arrival experience with the goal of boosting the number of visitors to the country – a dynamic reversal after two years of tightly controlled borders.

LaoSafe has bolstered visitors' confidence in tourism providers through its program of education, certification, and promotion; at the time of writing, more than 50 restaurants, 60 hotels, 500 tour guides, and 180 drivers, along with 2 airlines have been certified by the initiative.

This openness, combined with the safety and security of LaoSafe-certified tourism businesses, has made Laos alluring for international travellers.

Implemented by the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, and approved by the Ministry of Health, LaoSafe is a nationwide initiative designed to create a world-class health and hygiene system within the tourism and hospitality industry. Sector-specific standards have been developed for accommodation, food and beverage, tour guides, and drivers, to raise the benchmark of hygiene provision throughout the country and build international confidence in Laos as a safe tourist destination.

The LaoSafe program was initially rolled out in several areas especially beloved by travellers – including the UNESCO World Heritage city Luang Prabang – and is now expanding throughout other destinations across Laos. An investment in both local and national tourism providers that, along with Laos' fully open borders and lack of internal movement restrictions, makes the country an outstanding tourist destination.

"The LaoSafe certification program has used the time of Laos' closure to prepare for an influx of tourists post-Covid. "Now that the country is open again, the tourism industry is more prepared than ever to welcome travellers and to establish its reputation as Southeast Asia's premiere destination", said Mme Darany Phommavongsa, Director General of the Tourism Management Department, under the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism.

The LaoSafe program is supported by the Skills for Tourism Project (LAO/029), which is co-financed by the governments of the Lao PDR, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and Switzerland, and implemented by the Ministry of Education and Sports of Laos and LuxDev, the Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency.

LaoSafe Launches Destination Video

VIENTIANE, LAOS - 9 August 2022 UPDATE - LaoSafe has launched a new video showcasing the wonders of Laos as the country works on their post-Covid-19 revival of tourism.

Exploring several of Laos' most popular tourist hotspots, the video highlights the benefits of the LaoSafe certification to business, leisure, and adventure travellers alike. Restaurants, hotels, indoor and outdoor activities are all featured in the video, alongside the expertise of LaoSafe-certified tourism professionals.

Implemented by the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, and approved by the Ministry of Health, LaoSafe is a nationwide initiative designed to create a world-class health and hygiene system within the tourism and hospitality industry. Sector-specific standards have been developed for accommodation, food and beverage, tour guides, and drivers, to raise the benchmark of hygiene provision throughout the country and build international confidence in the Laos as a safe tourist destination.

To further this goal, LaoSafe has launched this English-language destination video highlighting the range of tourist experiences in Laos while focussing on the skills, knowledge, and contemporary hygiene practices of the tour guides, drivers, and service professionals who deliver them.

Set against the backdrop of Laos' stunning scenery and cultural heritage, the video follows a couple as they journey through some of the most popular attractions of this singular destination; a morning workout in a luxury 5-star gym, the tranquillity of a visit to the Buddhist temples, the adventure of zip lining and kayaking through karst rock formations, and, finally, relaxation with a cup of freshly brewed Lao coffee in nature.

At each stage of the trip, they are greeted and guided by certified staff following LaoSafe protocols, including offering face masks and hand sanitiser, practicing thorough cleaning techniques, wearing personal protective equipment, and encouraging visitors to undergo temperature checks.

The video ends with the slogan "You're Safe Here", a motto that underscores the overriding goal of the LaoSafe initiative.

"The LaoSafe certification program has been instrumental in restoring confidence in the Lao tourism sector among visitors. This video allows the sector to build awareness and increase certification efforts beyond Vientiane Capital and Luang Prabang," said Mme Darany Phommavongsa, Director General of the Tourism Management Department, under the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism.

Regarding the launch of the video, Mme Darany Phommavongsa said, "This destination video is an important contribution to ensuring visitors are aware not only of the safety measures and guidelines in place by the LaoSafe program, but also serves to showcase the beautiful tourism sites that Laos has to offer."

"We will continue to build on the momentum of the LaoSafe initiative to ensure that Laos remains a safe and clean country that is attractive for both foreign and domestic visitors in line with the government's green growth and sustainable development goals," she added.

The LaoSafe program is supported by the Skills for Tourism Project (LAO/029), which is co-financed by the governments of the Lao PDR, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and Switzerland, and implemented by the Ministry of Education and Sports of the Lao PDR and LuxDev, the Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency.

For further information, visit https://laosafe.gov.la/

Lao Travel Operators Gear Up to Certify Guides and Drivers with LaoSafe

LaoSafe has witnessed an increase in requests for training and certification in anticipation of an uptick in tourist arrivals to Laos.

Laos reopened its borders to international tourists on 9 May, dropping all testing and quarantine requirements for vaccinated travellers. Since then, interest in the country has grown, with an increase in visitors of over 50% by the end of June leading to a surge in demand for organised tours and renewed hope for the coming high season.

Coinciding with the end of the monsoon rains, Laos traditionally sees visitor numbers rise in October, and travel operators across the country are now racing to further certify tour guides and drivers to cope with the anticipated influx of tourists. To date, over 710 tour guides and 270 drivers have achieved LaoSafe certification.

"LaoSafe is a great standard to have and is very important during the new normal. The LaoSafe training that our guides have received has helped them prioritise safety and cleanliness. As a tour operator, I want travellers to know that Laos has safety standards in place for them to travel with peace of mind and confidence. I would like to invite everyone to visit Laos and for tour operators in Laos to apply for LaoSafe.", says Duangmala Phommavong, Managing Director at EXO Travel Laos.

Implemented by the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, and approved by the Ministry of Health, LaoSafe is a nationwide initiative designed to create a world-class health and hygiene system within the tourism and hospitality industry.

Sector-specific standards have been developed for accommodation, food and beverage, tour guides, and drivers, to raise the benchmark of hygiene provision throughout the country and build international confidence in Laos as a safe tourist destination.

"As a DMC (destination-management company) it is of utmost importance for us to be able to offer our customers a safe and quality experience. As COVID-19 has changed our world and our way of living, it was important for us to adapt as well and thanks to the LaoSafe initiative this has been possible," says Julie Beaufrère, Product and Inbound Officer at Asian Trails Laos.

"Not only does this initiative allow us to reassure our customers who would be concerned about safety and hygiene measures in Laos, but it also allows us to access a harmonization of services and the creation of standards on a national scale that we will continue to support by training our guides and drivers through LaoSafe," she commented.

While visitor numbers are not immediately expected to bounce back to 2019 levels, the removal of entry restrictions has given the tourism and hospitality industry a welcome boost after two years of tightly controlled borders. Yet, with COVID-19 numbers still fluctuating around the world, protecting against infection is still a concern for many.

The LaoSafe Programme is supported by the Skills for Tourism Project (LAO/029), which is co-financed by the governments of Laos, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and Switzerland, and implemented by the Ministry of Education and Sports of Laos and LuxDev, the Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency.

For further information, visit www.laosafe.gov.la. For all media enquiries, additional comments, or requests for interviews, please contact media@laosafe.gov.la.

Hashtags: #LaoSafe

LaoSafe Website Leading to Increased Interest in Laos as a Destination

The LaoSafe website has seen unprecedented traffic in recent weeks as interest in Laos as an emerging destination continues to grow.

VIENTIANE, LAOS - 24 October 2022 - The official website of the LaoSafe programme, which provides an improved digital experience for visitors to Laos, as well as for businesses certified under the national initiative, has experienced unprecedented surges in traffic over the past few weeks.

The latest promotional video released in August, has recently raked in over a quarter of a million views, making it one of the website's most watched videos of the year. The video follows a couple as they journey through some of the varied attractions that the country has to offer: a stay a in a luxury 5-star hotel, a tranquil visit to an iconic Buddhist stupa, adventurous activities zip lining and kayaking through various karst rock formations, and, finally, a relaxing cup of freshly brewed Lao coffee surrounded by nature.

Department of Tourism Management Director General, Mme Darany Phommavongsa, of the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism said of the website: "More and more visitors are arriving in Laos since the country fully reopened its borders in May. A good number of these are already aware of the LaoSafe programme and are interested to find out which businesses are LaoSafe certified."

While navigating the website, users can view exciting tourism promotional videos, search for LaoSafe certified businesses, tour guides, and drivers, obtain information on trainers and assessors, or browse useful resources uploaded to the site, including standards guides and training materials.

Implemented by the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, and approved by the Ministry of Health, LaoSafe is a nationwide initiative designed to create a world-class health and hygiene system within the tourism and hospitality industry.

Sector-specific standards have been developed for accommodation, food and beverage, tour guides, and drivers, to raise the benchmark of hygiene provision throughout the country and to build international confidence in Laos as a safe tourist destination.

Mme Darany Phommavongsa noted that "increased traffic to the LaoSafe website can be traced to several different countries, primarily Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and the USA. We are pleased to report that this programme is helping to promote Laos as a safe, secure destination for travellers in the region and around the world."

The LaoSafe programme is supported by the Skills for Tourism Project (LAO/029), which is co-financed by the governments of the Lao PDR, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and Switzerland, and implemented by the Ministry of Education and Sports of Laos and LuxDev, the Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency.