China’s Trip.com and Laos strengthen tourism cooperation

Trip.com Group CEO Jane Sun and the Lao minister of information, culture, and tourism Kikeo Khaykhamphithoune convened in December to discuss cooperation possibilities in tourism, including the streamlining of visa applications and cultural exchange projects, to drive tourism traffic between the two lands.

Commenting on the meeting, Kikeo said: “Culture and tourism are some of the best (ways) to promote people-to-people exchanges, as well as cooperation between countries. The Chinese market is crucial to Lao tourism, and we welcome Trip.com Group to grow its presence in our local tourism industry.”

Cooperation between the two is not new. Trip.com Group global visa service centre recently forged an exclusive strategic cooperation with Laos to create a visa “green channel”, allowing Chinese tourists to enjoy a streamlined visa application process.

Statistics indicate that orders for visa applications to Laos via Trip.com Group platforms have surged 80 per cent compared to 2018, up twice that of 2017.

Sun anticipates an enhanced exchange of resources and information between Laos and China, with an emphasis on biological protection and sustainable tourism. “We hope to strengthen cooperation with Laos, both in the development of new products and promotion of bilateral tourism on our platforms, helping the local industry to thrive,” she said.