Aerial photo taken on July 15, 2022 shows a view of the town of Luang Prabang, a UNESCO's world heritage site in Laos. The town of Luang Prabang has seen 90 percent of room reservations made by Thai visitors since Laos lifted all entry restrictions in May.(Photo by Kaikeo Saiyasane/Xinhua)
VIENTIANE, July 14 (Xinhua) -- The town of Luang Prabang has seen 90 percent of room reservations made by Thai visitors since Laos lifted all entry restrictions in May.
Local daily Vientiane Times on Thursday quoted President of the Luang Prabang Hotel and Guesthouse Association, Toun Sisouphanthavong, as saying that hotels and guesthouses have been almost fully booked due to the large number of Thai visitors coming to Luang Prabang since the government lifted travel restrictions after the COVID-19 outbreak subsided.
However, fewer people are arriving from Europe, South Korea, China and other countries because travel is still difficult, and people are dealing with an economic downturn.
Since the China-Laos Railway became operational, more people from Thailand and other countries have come to Laos to experience a new mode of travel through the country, said the Lao daily.
There are also more flights coming into Laos, easing air travel and bringing in more tourists.
The Luang Prabang Tourism Department said more than 67,000 domestic visitors visited the town in the first three months of 2022, an increase of 74 percent compared to the same period of last year.
Luang Prabang province, some 220 km north of Lao capital Vientiane, is one of the most well-known provinces in Laos and is a top tourist draw because of its old temples, scenic attractions and rural landscapes.
Luang Prabang was listed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as a world heritage in 1995. ■
Tourists visit the town of Luang Prabang, a UNESCO's world heritage site in Laos, July 15, 2022. The town of Luang Prabang has seen 90 percent of room reservations made by Thai visitors since Laos lifted all entry restrictions in May. (Photo by Kaikeo Saiyasane/Xinhua)
Tourists pose for photos in the town of Luang Prabang, a UNESCO's world heritage site in Laos, July 15, 2022. The town of Luang Prabang has seen 90 percent of room reservations made by Thai visitors since Laos lifted all entry restrictions in May. (Photo by Kaikeo Saiyasane/Xinhua)
Tourists visit the town of Luang Prabang, a UNESCO's world heritage site in Laos, July 15, 2022. The town of Luang Prabang has seen 90 percent of room reservations made by Thai visitors since Laos lifted all entry restrictions in May. (Photo by Kaikeo Saiyasane/Xinhua)