Is it time to lift all travel restrictions and fully reopen Laos?

The National Taskforce for Covid-19 Prevention and Control is seeking input from the general public over the proposed reopening of the country’s borders to all Lao and foreign citizens. Vientiane Times asked around for opinions on this dramatic move.

Mr Phai Khammichit, a government official in Huaphan province: I think it’s good that the government is considering reopening the country because lockdowns have had a terrible effect on the economy. If we do nothing until the pandemic ends, we will be in an awful mess. It seems the pandemic is likely to continue and that more potent variants of the virus could develop, so this makes it essential to immunise as many people as possible. Before we open up the country, the government should make sure that the vaccination programme achieves its intended target. The government also needs to set out a detailed plan to ensure that everything runs smoothly and no problems will result.
 
Mr Khamphouvong, a government official in Borikhamxay province:
I think it’s a good idea to fully reopen the country. As we know, every person and every business has been affected by the pandemic, and the economy has been really hard hit. I know that the government is making plans in this direction in order to revitalise the economy. I think the government should reopen all borders and issue visas on arrival as before, without any kind of restriction or Covid test being necessary. Of course, the regulations in this regard should be strictly enforced. Anyone who is advocating or profiting from restrictions should be made accountable for the huge economic losses the country and its citizens are suffering.
 
Ms Khonesavanh, a resident of Vientiane: The pandemic has been affecting Laos and most other countries for more than two years now and I feel certain this situation will continue because new variants of Covid will develop. This means we must adapt and get used to a “new normal” way of life and be aware of ways to protect ourselves. And we need to strictly enforce virus control measures to ensure we are safe so that visitors will want to come to Laos.

Ms Maly, a resident of Xaythany district, Vientiane: I don’t think there’s a huge difference between the so-called lockdowns and opening up the country because most people are no longer paying attention to any of the restrictions that have been introduced. There’s a lot to worry about, especially economic issues, our future, and our jobs. We have to change our behaviour, learn to be more careful, and try to adapt to changes. However, I believe the government will formulate sound plans to cope with whatever may arise in the future. In the meantime, we should all support the government and comply with all the regulations issued by authorities to ensure safety, security and order.
 
Ms Phetxayya, a visitor from Thoulakhom district, Vientiane province: As we know, almost every aspect of life has been affected by the pandemic, especially the economy. I think we should learn from the lessons of other countries concerning the pros and cons of opening up. The government needs to make comprehensive preparations for this and all of us need to adopt new routines to ensure we don’t take risks and will survive. It’s not easy to change our ways, especially when it comes to social distancing, but we must do this in order to stay safe.   

By Lamphone Pasanthong
(Latest Update May 4, 2022)