Portal
Type: Law
Responsible Agency: Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism
Issuing Date: 2013-07-24
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contents
Article 3. (Amended) Use of Terms
Article 4 (Amended) State Policy Towards Tourism
Article 5 (New) Principles Towards Tourism
Article 6 (Amended) Obligations of Individuals and Organisations
Article 7 (New) Scope of Law Application
Article 8 International Cooperation
Chapter 1: Types of Tourism Resources
Article 9 Types of Tourism Resources
Article 10. Natural Tourism Resources
Article 11 (Amended) Manmade Tourism Resources
Article 12 (Amended) Survey and Registration of Tourism Resources
Article 13. Classification of Tourism Resources
Article 14. Tourism Resources at National Level
Article 15 (Amended) Tourism Resources at Local Level
Chapter 1: Tourism Advertisement
Article 16 (Amended) Advertisement Purpose
Article 17 (Amended) Contents of Advertisement
Article 18 (Amended) Form and Methods of Advertisemen
Chapter 2 :Tourism Communication
Article 19 (Amended) Communication
Article 20 Supply of Information
Article 21 Warning and Instructions
Chapter 3 :Tourism Transportation
Article 22. Means of Transportation
Article 23 (Amended) Standard of Transportation Vehicles for Tourism
Article 24 (Amended) Transport Services Provided to Tourists
Chapter 4 : Places of Temporary Accommodation
Article 25 (Amended) Places of Temporary Accommodation
Article 26 Levels of Places of Temporary Accommodation
Article 27 Accommodation Services
Article 28 Determination of Fees for Temporary Accommodation
Chapter 5 :Foods and Beverages
Article 29 (Amended) Food and Beverages Service
Article 30 (New) Places for Food and Beverages Service
Article 31 (New) Classification of Places for Food and Beverages Service
Article 32 (New) Price of Foods and Beverages
Chapter 6 : Entertainment and Health Promotion
Article 34 (New) Type of Entertainment Service
Article 35 (New) Entertainment Place
Article 36 (New) Level of Entertainment Place
Article 37 (New) Entertainment Service
Article 38 (Amended) Health Promotion
Article 39 (New) Health Promotion Service
Article 40 The Importance of Souvenirs
Article 42 Place for Exhibition of Souvenirs
Article 43 (Amended) Safety Measures
Article 44 (New) Tourism Police
Article 45 (Amendment) Insurance
Chapter 8 :Guided Tour Services
Article 46 Types of Guided Tour Services
Article 47 Trans-national Guided Tours
Article 48 (Amended) Domestic Guided Tours
Article 49 Guided Tours for Specific Areas
Article 50 Conduct of Guided Tour Services
Article 51 Fees for Guided Tours
Article 52 Types and Levels of Tour Guides
Article 54 (Amended) Rights and Duties of Tour Guides
Party IV : Tourists and Entry-Exit
Article 57 International Tourists
Article 58 (Amended) Rights and Duties of Tourists
Chapter 2: Entry and Exit of Tourists into and out of the Country
Article 59 (Amended) Entry and Exit Permit
Article 60 (Amended) Entry-Exit Border Checkpoint
Article 61 (Amended) Travel within the Country
Chapter 1: Planning of Tourism Development
Article 62 Levels of Tourism Development Plans
Article 63 (Amended) Principles of Planning
Article 64 The Content of Tourism Development Plans
Chapter 2: Development of Tourism Sites.
Article 65 Procedures for Development of Tourism Site
Article 66 Allocation of Tourism Sites for Development
Article 67 (New) Conservation Areas
Article 68 (New) Reserved Areas
Article 69 (New) Tourist Service Areas
Article 70 Regulations on Administration of Tourism Sites
Article 71 Conditions for Tourism Cities
Article 72 (Amended) Development of Tourism Cities
Article 73 (Amended) Administration of Tourism Cities
Article 74 (Amended) Purpose of Tourism Fund
Article 75 (Amended) Sources of Funds
Article 76 (Amended) Use and Administration of Tourism Fund
Article 77 Activities Relating to Tourism Business
Article 78 (Amended) Establishment and Operation of Tourism Business
Article 79 (Amended) Rights and Duties of Tourism Enterprises
Part VII: Tourism Business Association
Article 80 (New) Establishment of Tourism Business Association
Article 81 (New) Role and Responsibilities of the Association
Article 82 (New) Rights and Duties of Tourism Business Association
Article 83 (Amended) Prohibitions on Persons Conducting Tourism Business
Article 84 (Amended) Prohibitions on Individuals, Legal Entities, Tourist and Other Organizations
Article 85 (New) Forms of Conflict Resolution
Article 87 (New) Resolution Through Administrative Channel
Article 88 (New) Resolution Through the Economic Conflict Resolution Authority
Article 89 (New) Court Sentence
Article 90 (New) Resolution done in International Nature
Part X : Management and Inspection of Tourism Task
Chapter 1: Management Authority
Article 91 (Amended) Tourism Management Authority
Article 92 (Amended) Rights and Duties of the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism
Article 95 (New) Rights and Duties of Village Administrative Authorities
Article 96 (Amended) Rights and Duties of Other Agencies
Chapter II : Inspection Authority
Article 97 (Amended) Tourism Inspection Authorities
Article 98. Rights and Duties of Inspection Authorities
Article 99 Forms of Inspection
Part XI : Policies Towards Persons with High Achievements And Measures Against Violators
Article 100 Policies Towards Persons with High Achievements
Article 101 Measures Against Violators
Lao People's Democratic Republic
Peace Independence Democracy Unity Prosperity
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
| National Assembly | No. 32/NA |
| Vientiane Capital, Date 24 July 2013. |
on Tourism (Amended)
Part I
General Provision
This Law determines the principles, regulations and measures in respect to the establishment, activities, administration and monitoring of tourism activities in order to boost the quality and efficiency of such task, to enable the preservation of tourism site which the aims to promote the development of natural, cultural and historical tourism in a sustainable ways, to transform into a modern tourism industry, to promote mutual understanding, peace, friendship, and development cooperation with international and to contribute to the national protection.
Tourism is the travel from one’s residence to other locations or countries for the purpose of visiting, sightseeing, relaxation, entertainment, cultural exchange, sports, health promotion, research study, exhibitions, meetings, and other, without any intention to seek work or undertake a professional career in order to make project in any form.
Article 3. (Amended) Use of Terms
The terms used in this law shall have the meanings as follows: 1. Tourist refers a person who travels from his place of residence to other locations or countries for any purposes described in Article 2 of this law;
2. Tourism activities refers to the act of carrying out activities to provide services to domestic and foreign tourists such as: sightseeing, renovation of tourism site, rest, temporary accommodation service, guided tours;
3. Tourism Business refers to the provision of services by any business unit to tourists in the form of travel, food, temporary accommodations, guided tours, and others;
4. Temporary accommodations business refers to the provision of services by any business unit to tourists in the form of accommodations, such as hotels, guesthouses, tourist boat, daily rooms and other accommodations that are arranged for general tourists;
5. Hotel refers to a place of accommodation consisting of at least fifteen rooms, which provides comfortable facilities, quality consumer equipment and good standard of service;
6. Guesthouse refers to a place of accommodation consisting of a maximum of fourteen rooms but not less than five rooms, which provides comfortable facilities, appropriate consumer equipment and good standard of services;
7. Daily room refers to a place of accommodation consisting of a maximum of four rooms, which shall have necessary facilities for travellers;
8. Resort refers to a place of temporary accommodation established in a tourism site, which shall provide comfortable facilities, quality consumer equipment and good standard of services;
9. Motel refers to a place of temporary accommodations established along a highway for travellers using vehicles, which shall provide parking lots and basic comfortable facilities;
10. Moveable accommodation refers to a place of temporary accommodation which is moveable, such as tourism boats, train compartment, caravans and others which provide comfortable facilities and appropriate services;
11. Campsite refers to a place of temporary accommodation in an aesthetic natural tourism site where tourists may rent tents and which provides basic comfortable facilities;
12. Homestay refers to the house of local people consisting of bedrooms and necessary comfortable facilities to serve the tourists;
13. Tour guide refers to a person who provides service to tourists to travel to different tourism sites and who has the duty to accurately explain, tell, give information and knowledge to tourist on the historical background of these tourism sites;
14. Restaurant refers to a place which provides food and beverage services; 15. Large Restaurant refers to a building or a place which provides food and beverage services having large area and can provide ranges of services;
16. Food Garden refers to a place with large area and beautiful landscape which provides food and beverage services;
17. Drinking Shop refers to a place with suitable area which mainly provides snack and beverages;
18. Eco-tourism refers to a sightseeing to the natural tourism resources as specified in Article 10 of this Law, for the purpose of recreation, entertainment, sport, health promotion and study;
19. Cultural Tourism refers to a sightseeing to the cultural tourism resources as specified in Article 11, clause 2 of the this Law for the purpose of recreation, entertainment and study;
20. Historical Tourism refers to a sightseeing to the cultural tourism resources as specified in Article 11, clause 2 of this Law for the purpose of memory and study;
21. Tourism Resources refers to a tourism potential occurred naturally or by human kind; 22. Tourism Sources refers to a tourism resource that has been developed into a tourism site to enable to attract tourists to travel for sightseeing;
23. Tourism Industry refers to the service provided to local and foreign tourist systematically and completely which comprise of businesses involve transport, tourism site, tour guide, temporary accommodations, foods, souvenirs, exhibition, fair, festival, carnival, and others which require labour, investment and high professional, modern technique, with planning, marketing and organization systematically;
24. Tourism Product refers to tourism resources occurred naturally and created by human kind to supply and serve the tourists;
25. Entertainment refers to the joy, happiness through the song, music, folk-song, comedies, dance, talk show and others;
26. Fair refers to the exhibition of goods, products or activities of the public that irregularly and un-culturally organized at certain place with the official permission to give the public the opportunity to sightseeing, buying, purchasing, exchanging and others;
27. Festival refers to the arrangement of traditional festival and national of local fete.
Article 4 (Amended) State Policy Towards Tourism
The State considers the tourism as first priority in the socio-economic development in order to promote the production of goods, services, employment creation, income generation and livelihood improvement of the multi-ethnic Lao people.
The State promotes the natural, cultural and historical tourism to have a colorful site, to become a green tourism site with sustainability and industrialization and modernization.
The State encourages, facilitates and protects the interest of individuals, organizations, both local and foreigner, who invest in tourism development and promotion through the advertisement,
information sharing, organizing of festivals, cultural events , ceremonies involving the fine culture and tradition of the nation, heroic heritage of the multi-ethnic Lao people.
Article 5 (New) Principles Towards Tourism
The tourism task shall follow the principles below: 1. Be in conformity with the policy, strategy, national socio-economic development plan and the development plan of the tourism sector;
2. Guarantee peace, security, orderliness, sustainability, convenience, speediness, equality and fairness through the public involvement;
3. Guarantee the protection of legitimate rights and interest of the tourist, individual and organization involved in tourism;
4. Guarantee that tourism development is carried out along with the protection of environment, nature, culture and historic tradition of the nation;
5. Guarantee that the tourism has quality, sustainability and link with foreign countries, regional and international level.
Article 6 (Amended) Obligations of Individuals and Organisations
To promote tourism, all individuals and domestic organizations have the obligation to contribute to the conservation, protection, development and promotion of culture, fine national traditions, arts, literature, handicraft with unique characteristics, tourism resources, and the wealthy and beautiful environment of the nation.
Foreign individuals and organizations entering the Lao PDR have also the same obligations to contribute to the development and promotion of tourism tasks, the protection of tourism site to be sustainable as well as to pay respect to the culture and fine traditions of Laos.
Article 7 (New) Scope of Law Application
This Law is applied for domestic and foreign individuals, legal entities, organizations and tourists involved in the tourism and the business operation in the tourism sector of the Lao PDR.
Article 8 International Cooperation
The State promotes cooperation in tourism with foreign countries, at the regional and international level through the exchange of lessons and information, the building and training of officials, the attraction of assistance in order to promote tourism development and international standard of tourism service.
Tourism Resources
Chapter 1
Types of Tourism Resources
Article 9 Types of Tourism Resources
Tourism resources are divided into two types as follows: 1. Natural tourism resources; 2. Manmade tourism resources.
Article 10. Natural Tourism Resources
Natural tourism resources consist of: landscape scenery, cliffs, caves, plateaus, high mountains, volcanoes, flatlands, forests, plants, wild and aquatic animals, insects, flowers, rivers, islands, beaches, ponds, marshes, waterfall, rapids, hot springs, natural occurrences, and others.
Article 11 (Amended) Manmade Tourism Resources
Manmade tourism resources consist of: 1. Cultural tourism resources, such as arts, architecture, ethnological sites, antiques, anthropologic sites, pagodas, buildings, houses, artistic literature, traditional festivals, cultural events, ceremonies rites, living standards, trade centres, exhibition halls and others;
2. Historical tourism resources such as : museums, monuments, house of worship, place of birth, place of residence and working places of important people, battle field and others;
3. Natural tourism resources such as national parks, amusement park, zoos, stimulated places and others.
Tourism Resources
Article 12 (Amended) Survey and Registration of Tourism Resources
The Division of Information, Culture, and Tourism is in charge of surveying, collecting, registering, researching and editing the tourism resources history throughout the country in collaboration with other sectors and local administrative authority concerned.
Article 13. Classification of Tourism Resources
Tourism resources in the Lao PDR are divided into two levels as follows: 1. National level; 2. Local level.
Article 14. Tourism Resources at National Level
The tourism resources at national level are tourism sites which have achieved the status of national, regional and world heritage, which are highly popular, which are attractive and draw the attention of mass tourists within the country and from abroad to visit, which have become widely known, and which provide adequate infrastructure and comfortable facilities to tourists and important income generation to the tourism industry.
Article 15 (Amended) Tourism Resources at Local Level
Tourism resources at local level are places that create attractions and draw attention mostly from domestic tourists, that have areas where development can be extended, that provide basic comfortable facilities and that are important for income generation in the locality.
Tourism resources at local level includes tourism sites at provincial, district and community levels.
Tourism Activities
Chapter 1
Tourism Advertisement
Article 16 (Amended) Advertisement Purpose
The purpose of advertisement is to enable citizens to understand the importance of tourism and contribute to the protection and promotion of tourism, to make domestic tourists proud to travel within their home country, to make foreign tourists aware that the Lao PDR is an attractive place and to be willing to visit and learn about Laos, and at the same time to open up and increase the Lao tourism market.
Article 17 (Amended) Contents of Advertisement
Tourism advertisement shall focus on important contents such as tourism sites, the attractiveness and outstanding of tourism resources and products that have unique national character, natural, cultural and historical value, and the services which are able to attract and impress tourists.
Article 18 (Amended) Form and Methods of Advertisement
Tourism advertisements use the following forms and methods:
1. Festivals, cultural events, ceremonies, exhibitions and trade fairs at local, national, regional or international levels;
2. Through electronic media and publications media, including domestic and foreign networks;
3. Through public relations for ceremonies, and other tourism promotion activities;
4. Through visit to tourism site;
5. Through other forms and methods that serve the advertisement and promotion of Lao tourism.
Tourism Communication
Article 19 (Amended) Communication
Domestic and foreign individuals, legal entities and tourists are able to obtain convenience to communicate, collect information and seek for new things about tourism in the Lao PDR and in abroad.
Article 20 Supply of Information
The concerned agencies shall apply adequate data and information on tourism in a timely and systematic manner, about tourism sites, travel, accommodations, restaurants, any permitted or prohibited practices and others.
Article 21 Warning and Instructions
The concerned agencies shall provide data and information, and give notice of emergency situations that have happened or may be happening which may cause adverse effects to tourists, to the image of tourism and shall also give instructions on preventive measures such as: in the case of earthquakes, floods, fires, hurricanes, spread of diseases.
Tourism Transportation
Article 22. Means of Transportation
The vehicles used for transporting tourists included: aeroplanes, cars, boats and other means of transportation based on the needs of tourists.
Article 23 (Amended) Standard of Transportation Vehicles for Tourism
Transport vehicles for tourism shall fulfill assurances of quantity and quality, meet standard, the period of use shall meet the technical standards of the Division of Public Works and Transport; and they shall fulfill assurances of safety, cleanliness, good service and have insurance.
Article 24 (Amended) Transport Services Provided to Tourists
Transport services provided to tourists shall proceed on the basis of the plan, program and conditions agreed in the contract.
Providers of transport services to tourists shall be in good health, have good people skills, have received basic training in tourism and have high level of responsibility.
Places of Temporary Accommodation
Article 25 (Amended) Places of Temporary Accommodation
Places of temporary accommodation include hotels, guesthouses, resorts, motels, campsites, tourist boat containing rooms, caravans and other places of temporary accommodation supplying rooms to tourists and other necessary services.
Article 26 Levels of Places of Temporary Accommodation
Places of temporary accommodation have different levels, and the classification of levels aims to determine the standard and quality of places of temporary accommodation and to provide variety options to tourists.
Article 27 Accommodation Services
Accommodations services shall fulfill assurances of quality, cleanliness, comfort and safety. Providers of accommodation services shall have received certain professional training relating to accommodation services, have good people skill, be gentle, honest, cheerful and have other qualities that give satisfaction to tourists.
Article 28 Determination of Fees for Temporary Accommodation
The fees for temporary accommodations shall be reasonable, suitable to the level or standard of such accommodations. Tourists and concerned agencies shall be given advance notice, in an adequate and timely manner, of any change in the fees for accommodations, together with reasons.
Foods and Beverages
Article 29 (Amended) Food and Beverages Service
Food and beverages served to tourists shall fulfill the assurances of quality, standard, safety, cleanliness consistent with the sanitary measures as specified in the Law on Food.
Food and beverages served to tourists shall comprise of several types as to provide tourists with multiple options and the appropriate places of service.
Providers of services relating to food and beverages shall have received certain professional training relating to the service, have a good people skill, be gentle, honest, cheerful and have other qualities that give satisfaction to tourists.
Article 30 (New) Places for Food and Beverages Service
Places for food and beverages service include restaurant, large restaurant, food garden, dining room and drinking ship.
Places for good and beverages service shall be located at the appropriate and comfort place, clean and safe.
Article 31 (New) Classification of Places for Food and Beverages Service
Classification of places for food and beverages service is to determine standard and quality of foods and services to provide to tourists and general public with safe consumption and multiple options.
Article 32 (New) Price of Foods and Beverages
Food and beverages shall have reasonable price and appropriate to each type of food, level of service and location of the restaurant.
Menu of food and beverages must be available at the restaurant and price must be clearly stated.
Entertainment and Health Promotion
Entertainment consists of: playing music, artistic performances, dances, singing songs and folksongs, playing international music and others, which display the unique culture and fine national traditions of the Lao PDR, which are world-class performances.
The entertainment arranged in places of temporary accommodation, restaurant or specific places.
Article 34 (New) Type of Entertainment Service
Entertainment service comprise of Karaoke, pub, disco-tech, bar, snack-bar, concert and others.
Article 35 (New) Entertainment Place
Entertainment can be arranged at a specific entertainment place and at the place of temporary accommodation, restaurant, large restaurant, food garden, drinking shop and others.
Article 36 (New) Level of Entertainment Place
Classification of entertainment place is to determine the standard of light, color, sound, dress- up, capability, safety, and service quality systems to provide the service users with happiness, cheerfulness, joy and safety.
Article 37 (New) Entertainment Service
Entertainment service shall fulfill the assurances of quality, safety, comfort, cleanliness and no sound effect to other persons living outside or in the nearby vicinity of the entertainment place.
Providers of entertainment service must have received certain professional training relating to entertainment service, have a good people skill, be gentle, honest, cheerful, in good health.
Article 38 (Amended) Health Promotion
Health promotion consists of: exercises, traditional massages, herbal saunas, hot spring baths, sunbathing and others as appropriate.
Health promotion may be arranged in places of temporary accommodation or specific places.
Article 39 (New) Health Promotion Service
Health promotion services shall fulfill the assurances of quality, safety, cleanliness, comfort and relaxation to service users.
Providers of health promotion service shall have received good professional training related to health promotion service, have a certificate and good people skill, dress up politely, be honest, cheerful and in good health.
Souvenirs
Article 40 The Importance of Souvenirs
Souvenirs are items that bring back good memories to tourists in respect of the artists, cultures, history and fine traditions of Laos, and which display the precision, beauty and skills of the multi-ethnic Lao people.
There are many types of souvenirs, such as gold and silver jewellery, wickerwork, weave designs (such as laichok and matmee), embroidery, decorated items, carved items, painting, pottery, music instrument, and others, which are made with precision and reflect the fine couture, traditions, and livelihood of the multi-ethic Lao people.
Article 42 Place for Exhibition of Souvenirs
Souvenirs shall be displayed and sold at places of temporary accommodation, markets, community shops, at a location where tourists pass by, that are properly decorated, clean and beautiful. Souvenirs shall mostly be domestic products.
Safety
Article 43 (Amended) Safety Measures
Tourism services shall fulfill the assurances of safety to health, life and property of tourists. Service providers shall have safety method and technical standards in conformity with the laws and regulations of relevant sectors.
In the event of any emergency, the tourism service provider or any person who sees such occurrence shall provide assistance to tourists and coordinate with relevant sectors in a proper manner.
Article 44 (New) Tourism Police
Tourism police and emergency support unit shall be established at the central and local levels in order to provide convenience, to assist tourists and business entrepreneurs.
The rights and duties of tourism police and emergency support unit are specified in a specific regulation.
Article 45 (Amendment) Insurance
To assure the compensation of damages which tourists may incur, tourism entrepreneurs shall maintain insurance as described in the Law on Insurance of the Lao PDR.
Guided Tour Services
Article 46 Types of Guided Tour Services
Guide tour services are divided into three types as follows: 1. Trans-national guided tours; 2. Domestic guided tours; 3. Guided tour for specific areas.
Article 47 Trans-national Guided Tours
A trans-national guided tour is the service of introducing tourists into the country or guiding tourists to other countries for the purpose of tourism.
Article 48 (Amended) Domestic Guided Tours
A domestic guided tour is the service of guiding tourists in the Lao PDR to have a sightseeing at any tourism sites within the country.
Article 49 Guided Tours for Specific Areas
A guided tour for specific area is the service of guiding tourists to have a sightseeing at any tourism sites of the Lao PDR.
Article 50 Conduct of Guided Tour Services
Guided tour services shall be conducted in accordance with the determined plan, programme, schedule, standard and quality of the relevant guided tour.
Article 51 Fees for Guided Tours
The fees for guided tours shall be reasonable for the program, schedule, standard and quality of the guided tour.
Any changes in agreed price or program for any reason shall require a consent from tourists.
Tour Guides
Article 52 Types and Levels of Tour Guides
Tour guides consist of two types: tour guides employed by a tour company and tour guides not employed by a tour company.
These two types of tour guides are divided into three levels: national tour guides, provincial tour guides and tour guides for a specific area.
Articles 53 (Amended) Standard of Tour Guides
Tour guides shall meet the following main standards: 1. Be Lao citizens, at least 18 years of age, reside in the Lao PDR; 2. Have never been imposed court sentence for any diprivation; 3. Possess tour guide identity cards issued by concerned organizations; 4. Obtain certificate or certificate for attendance of guided tour training in the country or in abroad which is officially approved;
5. Have knowledge and capability in specific fields, such as in geography, history, foreign language and basic first aid;
6. Have political attitude, good qualification, honesty, good behavior and politeness;
Article 54 (Amended) Rights and Duties of Tour Guides
Tour guides shall have the following main rights and duties: 1. To guide the tourists visiting natural, cultural and historical tourism sites that are properly open to tourists;
2. To assure the safety, provide convenience and assistance to the tourist as necessary; 3. To respect the service users, laws and regulations and the local traditions of the place where the tour is conducted;
4. To explain the historical background of the tourism sites; 5. To coordinate with the concerned agencies in the performance of their duties; 6. To exercise such other rights and perform such other duties as prescribed by laws and regulations.
Tourists and Entry-Exit
Chapter 1
Tourists
Tourists are divided into two groups, namely: 1. Domestic tourists; 2. International tourists.
Domestic tourists are those tourists who are Lao citizens, aliens, apatrids, or foreign individuals residing in the Lao PDR and touring within the country.
Article 57 International Tourists
International tourists are the foreign tourists, Lao citizens residing abroad who travel as tourists into the Lao PDR or Lao citizens, aliens, apatrids or foreign individuals residing in the Lao PDR who are on tour to other countries.
Article 58 (Amended) Rights and Duties of Tourists
Tourists have the following main rights:
1. To travel through a tour company or by themselves;
2. To select a whole package tour or to use part of the tour provided by a tour company;
3. To receive facilitation for entry into and exit from the country, and during their travels;
4 To receive permission and tax exemption on personal items that they bring into and out of the Lao PDR, as regulated by the laws;
5. To complain of any improper action that causes damage to them.
Tourists have the following main duties:
1. To comply with the laws and regulations, and the fine traditions of Laos;
2. To strictly follow the programs, schedules of the tours;
3. To protect tourism resources, natural and social environment;
4. To report to authorities when discouraging phenomenon which might cause negative effect to the society and environment.
Entry and Exit of Tourists into and out of the Country
Article 59 (Amended) Entry and Exit Permit
Tourists planning to travel to the Lao PDR shall strictly comply with the Laws and regulations of the Lao PDR.
The concerned authorities shall facilitate, provide prompt and simple services for issuing entry and exit permits to tourists.
Article 60 (Amended) Entry-Exit Border Checkpoint
Tourists travelling into the Lao PDR shall enter and exit through the determined borders and shall sully comply with procedures for entry and exit.
The concerned authorities at each border checkpoint, shall administer, inspect, and coordinate with concerned agencies, arrange suitable places to facilitate, provide prompt services to, and serve with friendly attitudes to the tourists who enter and exit the country.
Article 61 (Amended) Travel within the Country
Tourists who travel for a tour in the Lao PDR are allowed to travel to places within the country as regulated.
All concerned authorities shall facilitate tourists travelling within the country, and amend regulations which are not consistent and which cause difficulties to tourists when they travel and visit tourism sites.
Tourism Development
Chapter 1
Planning of Tourism Development
Article 62 Levels of Tourism Development Plans
Tourism development plans are contained in long-term, medium-term and short-term plans, which shall be classified as follows:
1. National Tourism Development strategic Plan; 2. Regional tourism development plans; 3. Provincial tourism development plans; 4. District tourism development plans; 5. Tourism sites development plans.
Article 63 (Amended) Principles of Planning
Tourism planning shall be based on the following basic principles: 1. Be based on hiding potential and consistent with the national and local socio-economic development plan;
2. Follow policy direction on natural, cultural and historical tourism with the participation of the community;
3. Assure sustainability in connection with the protection of the natural environment, and Lao social and fine traditions;
4. Encourage and promote domestic production to supply the needs of tourism;
5. Promote domestic tourism alongside with international tourism;
6. Target outstanding areas, including the promotion of new tourism products that are competitive in the region and the world.
7. Develop, build up facilities and personnel in the field of tourism.
Article 64 The Content of Tourism Development Plans
Tourism development plan shall define the primary contents, purposes, objectives, development goals, assessment and analyses of potential resources, conditions of the tourism market, the outcomes and impacts on the economy, society, culture and environment, including determination of methods, regulations and measures for implementation.
Development of Tourism Sites.
Article 65 Procedures for Development of Tourism Site
The procedures for the development of tourism site consist of: surveying, planning, dividing and allocating areas for tourism, designing, investing in the construction of tourism site and summarizing the history of tourism sites.
Article 66 Allocation of Tourism Sites for Development
Tourism sites shall be allocated for development based on the potential of the tourism resource and favourable conditions for tourism.
The development of tourism sites is divided into three categories: conservation areas, reserved areas and tourist services areas.
Article 67 (New) Conservation Areas
Conservation area is the area where no official permission are given to conduct any destruction, construction, renovation, extension, clearing and others to make changes to the original condition within the conservation area, except the repair or restoration to keep in original condition only.
Article 68 (New) Reserved Areas
Reserved area is the area officially defined for the development of any business for the common interest and to serve the public in the field of tourism, such as sightseeing spot, camp-site, tourist rest area, foot path.
Reserved area shall be determined based on the consent from concerned agencies and shall be properly certified.
Article 69 (New) Tourist Service Areas
Tourist service area is the area officially determined in order to build various facilities in a systematic manner that can be developed into tourism-supporting business, such as tourism, temporary accommodation, food, trade business and other services.
Article 70 Regulations on Administration of Tourism Sites
The regulations on the administration of tourism sites consist of two types: general administrative regulations and specific administrative regulations.
General administrative regulations shall have main contents relating to the conservation and protection of tourism sites and the environment, the maintenance of security and social order, land use and construction.
Specific administrative regulations contain regulations on each tourism site and shall be consistent with general administrative regulations.
Tourism Cities
Article 71 Conditions for Tourism Cities
The conditions for tourism cities are as follows: 1. Is a popular city for mass tourist visits; 2. Has natural, cultural or historical tourism resources existed inside or outside the city that attract tourists; 3. Maintain orderliness, security and safety; 4. Has basic infrastructure and is able to develop further; 5. Taking tourism business as an important part of the economic structure of the city, where major revenue comes from tourism.
Article 72 (Amended) Development of Tourism Cities
The socio-economic development of a tourism city shall give first priority to tourism development.
The development of a tourism city shall focus on the promotion of investment, the development of infrastructure, other facilities, the development of human resources, the creation of awareness of tourism among citizens, land use, the development of a clean, beautiful, and orderly city to attract tourists.
Article 73 (Amended) Administration of Tourism Cities
A tourism city shall have specific administrative regulations aiming to protect, conserve and develop the natural, cultural and historical tourism resources.
Tourism Fund
Article 74 (Amended) Purpose of Tourism Fund
The tourism fund is established for the development, promotion and management of tourism, in particular the development of human resources, development of facilities for tourism, promotional advertising of tourism marketing, determination of tourism standard and tourism management regulations.
Article 75 (Amended) Sources of Funds
The tourism fund is obtained from:
1. The state budget;
2. The contributions of domestic and foreign individuals and organizations;
3. Revenue from tourism activities, such as food fair, tourism trade fair, exhibition;
4. and other lawful income.
Article 76 (Amended) Use and Administration of Tourism Fund
The use of tourism fund shall comply with the purposes prescribed in Article 74 of this Law. The administration of such fund is specified in a specific regulation.
Tourism Business
Article 77 Activities Relating to Tourism Business
Activities relating to tourism business consist of:
1. The tourism site business;
2. The guided tour business;
3. The tourist transport business;
4. The temporary accommodations business;
5. The restaurant business;
6. The tourism training business;
7. The tourism consultancy business;
8. The entertainment business;
9. The souvenir business, and others.
Article 78 (Amended) Establishment and Operation of Tourism Business
Domestic individuals and legal entities intending to establish an enterprise to operate a tourism business shall comply with the Law on Enterprise and the Law on Investment Promotion and the following requirements:
a. Individual
1. Shall be 18 years of age or older;
2. Shall not be an insane person;
3. Shall have never been convicted to any deprivation;
b. Legal entities:
1. Shall possess lawful enterprise registration certificate;
2. Shall have performed obligations owed to the State in accordance with the laws and regulations;
3. Shall not be in the period of performing court decision as a bankcruptcy.
Article 79 (Amended) Rights and Duties of Tourism Enterprises
Tourism enterprises shall have the following main rights:
1. To freely conduct their business in accordance with the laws;
2. To have their legitimate rights and benefits protected by the laws;
3. To participate in activities of tourism business associations;
4. To determine the fees for tourism service in consistent with the condition and standard of their services.
Tourism enterprises shall have the following main duties:
1. To respect and comply with this Law and relevant laws and regulations;
2. To protect the natural environment, fine national traditions, cleanliness, safety and social order;
3. To hold enterprise account and strictly perform obligations owed to the State.
Tourism Business Association
Article 80 (New) Establishment of Tourism Business Association
The State grants authorization for the establishment of the Tourism Business Association in order to strengthen the organization and the effective business operation, protect their legitimate rights and benefits on the basis of the implementation of the relevant laws and regulations of the Lao PDR.
Article 81 (New) Role and Responsibilities of the Association
The Tourism Business Association has the role and responsibility to gather domestic and foreign tourism enterprise units operating business in the Lao PDR from both state and private sectors to become the network that is strong and has power to contribute to the tourism promotion and development to be growth in both quantity and quality, highly effective, able to linked with the tourism in ASEAN, sub-regional, regional and international levels.
Article 82 (New) Rights and Duties of Tourism Business Association
The Tourism Business Association has the following rights and duties: 1. To study, formulate its regulations, disseminate the laws and regulations related to tourism activities to its members and the public to enhance their broad understanding, acknowledgement, and uniform implementation in an effective manner;
2. Develop and improve its organizations to be growth and strong, use science, modern technique and technology in the performing tourism tasks;
3. Encourage tourism enterprise units to join the Association’s membership, support and promote its members in performing its profession in a progressive manner, manage and protect legitimate right of its members on the basis of the laws and regulations;
4. Represented persons conducting tourism business in giving cooperation, attending a meeting, providing opinion to the tourism agencies in respect to the tourism activities both within the country and in abroad;
5. Follow up activities, give advice and solve conflict among its members in the implementation of tourism tasks based on the scope of its responsibilities;
6. Provide the information to its members regarding the tourism, domestic and international tourism market;
7. Give cooperation, coordinate with the government sector concerned to discuss, exchange opinion related to the development, tourism promotion and management;
8. Organize dissemination on the policy direction, train and upgrade professional skill to its members;
9. Summarize and report its working activities, including the statistical data to the Division of Information, Culture and Tourism on a regular basis;
10. Exercise such other rights and perform such other duties as specified in the laws and regulations.
Prohibitions
Article 83 (Amended) Prohibitions on Persons Conducting Tourism Business
Persons conducting tourism business are prohibited from undertaking the following acts: 1. Conducting tourism business that is against the sovereignty, stability, and security of the nation or against the social order;
2. Creating or implementing tourism projects that are inconsistent with the tourism development plan or that cause harmful effects to tourism resources, the environment or landscape scenery;
3. Seeking unlawful benefits from tourists; 4. Conducting tourism business without a license; 5. Conducting tourism business in contravention of the laws, regulations or fine national traditions;
6. Involving in human trafficking, prostitution, sexual harassment, child-sexual abuse, labour extort, child-labour, gambling, sexual abuse;
7. Producing, trading, consuming, having in possession or distributing all types of addictive items;
8. Unlawfully transferring or leasing the tourism business license; 9. Campaigning and distorting, blaming other persons or organizations; 10. Having other behavior that violates the laws and regulations.
Article 84 (Amended) Prohibitions on Individuals, Legal Entities, Tourist and Other Organizations
Individuals, legal entities, tourist and other organizations are prohibited from undertaking the following acts:
1. Destroying tourism resources, the beauty of the environment, fine national traditions connected to tourism;
2. Creating obstructions, sending annoyed sound, organizing party, activities, creating dirty to tourism site or public place through different method without any permission from concerned organizations;
3. Encroaching, occupying or constructing in prohibited area or tourism resources site without permission;
4. Dressing one’s self, wearing and act impolitely at holy places, temples, religious site, historical tourism site, antique site and other places;
5. Campaigning and distorting, blaming other persons or organizations; 6. Involving in human trafficking, prostitution, sexual harassment, child-sexual abuse, labour extort, child-labour, gambling addicted, sexual addicted;
7. Producing, trading, consuming, having in possession or distributing all types of addictive items;
8. Having other behavior that violates the laws and regulations.
Conflict Resolution
Article 85 (New) Forms of Conflict Resolution
Conflict resolution can be proceed through the following forms:
1. Compromise;
2. Resolution through administrative channel;
3. Resolution through the Economic Conflict Resolution Authority;
4. Court sentence;
5. Resolution done in international nature.
In case of any conflict arisen in connection to the operation of tourism business, the contracting parties must discuss and seek resolution in peaceful and mutual compromise.
Article 87 (New) Resolution Through Administrative Channel
In case of any conflict arisen in connection to the operation of tourism business, the contracting parties shall have the right to propose to concerned agencies where they obtained authorization to establish and operate business for consideration in accordance with the laws and regulations.
Article 88 (New) Resolution Through the Economic Conflict Resolution Authority
In case of any conflict arisen in connection to the operation of tourism business, the contracting parties shall have the right to propose to the Economic Conflict Resolution Authority for consideration in accordance with the laws and regulations.
Article 89 (New) Court Sentence
In case of any conflict arisen in connection to the operation of tourism business, either party can lodge a complaint to the people’s court for consideration and judgement in according to the laws and regulations.
Article 90 (New) Resolution done in International Nature
In order to solve any conflict related to the operation of tourism business between a person who operates tourism business and the tourism service users or the contracting parties, a proposal can be submitted to domestic of foreign Conflict Resolution Authority as agreed or to comply with the treaty, international convention in which the Lao PDR is a party.
Management and Inspection of Tourism Task
Chapter 1
Management Authority
Article 91 (Amended) Tourism Management Authority
The Government is in charge with tourism management in a centrally and uniformed manner throughout the country by assigning the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism to be directly in charge of and to take initiative in coordinating with other ministries, authorities and local administrative authority concerned.
The Tourism Management Authority consists of:
1. Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism;
2. Division of Information, Culture, and Tourism at provincial/city level;
3. Office of Information, Culture and Tourism at district/municipality level;
4. Village Administrative Authority.
Article 92 (Amended) Rights and Duties of the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism
The Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism has the following rights and duties in the management of tourism task:
1. To study policy, strategic plan, laws related to tourism activities across the country to propose to the Government for consideration;
2. To expand the policy, strategic plan, and laws into a plan, grogram, and project for dissemination before the implementation;
3. To coordinate with other relevant sectors to determine the plan for the protection, preservation, development and promotion of tourism tasks throughout the countries;
4. To determine standard and conditions regarding the classification of each type of business related to tourism qualified, meet the international standard, have organization and activities in line with the laws and regulations.
5. To guide, encourage and monitoring the organization of activities and the performance of policy, program, project, law and regulations on tourism of sectors under its responsible sector;
6. To organize and promote the improvement, upgrading, and training to personnel from the state and private sectors who involve in tourism activities to have certain level of knowledge and skill with regard to tourism;
7. To improve the organization system of tourism sector to become stable, administrator and use staff, government official by assurance in terms of quantity, quality and effectiveness with the aim to response to the need of the task in each period;
8. To manage and use of tourism fund in accordance with the plan, effectiveness and in line with the goals and objectives of the fund, principles and regulations of the Ministry of Finance;
9. To coordinate with other relevant sectors about tourism tasks, such as the survey, data collection, research, allocation of tourism sources and the approval on the operation of tourism business, and convenience to tourists;
10. To consider granting permission, giving praise, warning, fine, ordering a suspension or dissolution of tourism business in coordination with other relevant sectors;
11. To cooperate with foreign countries, regional and international with regard to the tourism task;
12. To Summarize and regularly report to the Government the implementation of tasks related to tourism;
13. To exercise such other rights and to perform such other duties as specified in the laws and regulations.
Article 93 (Amended) Rights and Duties of the Division of Information, Culture and Tourism at Provincial/City Level
Regarding the management of tourism tasks, the Division of Information, Culture and Tourism of Province, city shall have the rights and duties based on its responsibilities as follows:
1. To consider setting plan, project related to the development of tourism in order to propose to higher authority for consideration;
2. To implement plan, laws and orders on tourism tasks; 3. To take lead in coordinating with other relevant sectors, to conduct survey, data collection and make inventory as well as to protect, preserve, renovate and develop natural, cultural and historical tourism sources;
4. To consider granting authorization, cancellation of tourism business as specified in this Law;
5. To consider granting authorization, praise, warning, fine, suspension or dissolution of tourism business in coordination with other relevant sectors;
6. To establish, organize training course for personnel with regard to the tourism tasks;
7. To manage and use tourism fund in according to the plan, in an effective manner and in line with the goals and objectives of the fund, principles and regulations of the Ministry of Finance;
8. To make a contact with foreign countries with respect tourism tasks as assigned by higher authority;
9. To summarize and report the implementation of tasks related to tourism activities to the Ministry of Information, Cultural and Tourism, the Provincial/city administrative authority on a regular basis;
10. To exercise such other rights and to perform such other duties as specified in the Laws and Regulations or through the assignment of higher authority.
Article 94 (Amended) Rights and Duties of the Office of Information, Cultural and Tourism of District/Municipality
With regard to the management of tourism tasks, the Office of Information, Cultural and Tourism of District/Municipality shall have the following rights and duties based on its responsibilities: 1. To consider setting plan, project related to the development of tourism in order to propose to higher authority for consideration;
2. To implement plan, laws and orders on regarding tourism tasks;
3. To take lead in coordinating with other relevant sectors, to conduct survey, data collection, and to make inventory as well as to protect, preservation, renovation and development of natural, cultural and historical tourism sources;
4. To consider granting authorization, cancellation of tourism business as specified in this Law; 5. To consider granting authorization, praise, warning, fine, suspension or dissolution of tourism business in coordination with other relevant sectors;
6. To propose capacity building, organize training course for personnel with regard to the tourism tasks;
7. To summarize and report the implementation of tasks related to tourism activities to the Ministry of Information, Cultural and Tourism, the Provincial/city administrative authority on a regular basis;
8. To exercise such other rights and to perform such other duties as specified in the Laws and Regulations or through the assignment of higher authority.
Article 95 (New) Rights and Duties of Village Administrative Authorities
In administrating tourism activities, village administrative authority shall have the rights and duties to cooperate and assist the Office of Information, Culture and Tourism of District/Municipality in developing, inspecting and promoting the tourism within its village territory.
Article 96 (Amended) Rights and Duties of Other Agencies
In administrating tourism activities, other agencies shall have the rights and duties to protect, develop and promote tourism, tourism resources within the scope of its responsibilities as prescribed in the laws and regulations.
Inspection Authority
Article 97 (Amended) Tourism Inspection Authorities
The Tourism Inspection Authority shall consist of :
1. Internal Inspection Authority which is the same as the tourism administration Authorities as described in Article 91 of this Law.
2. External Inspection Authority which include the National Assembly, the Government Inspection and Anti-Corruption Authority, the State Audit Organization, the Lao Front for National Construction, the Mass Organization, the public and mass media.
Article 98. Rights and Duties of Inspection Authorities
The tourism inspection authorities shall have the following rights and duties: 1. To monitor the implementation of strategies, policies, plans, projects, laws and regulations relating to tourism;
2. To inspect the operation of tourism businesses, mainly to examine documents and undertake on-site inspections;
3. To inspect and deal with the proposals of individuals or organizations on tourism activities;
4. To impose sanctions on persons violating laws and regulations on tourism;
5. To coordinate with other concerned agencies on the work of tourism inspection. The person who are inspected shall cooperate with and facilitate the inspection authority.
Article 99 Forms of Inspection
There are three forms of inspection, as follows:
1. Regular systematic inspection;
2. Inspection following an advance notice;
3. Emergency inspection. Regular systematic inspection are inspections which are carried out according to plans, on a regular basis and at a specified time, which shall be performed at least once a year.
An inspection following an advance notice is an inspection that is conducted when it is necessary, by giving prior notice to the persons responsible for the administration or operation of the tourism business at least twenty-four hours in advance.
Policies Towards Persons with High Achievements And Measures Against Violators
Article 100 Policies Towards Persons with High Achievements
Individuals or organizations with outstanding performance in the implementation of this law may receive awards and other benefits, as appropriate.
Article 101 Measures Against Violators
Individuals or organizations that violate provisions of this law shall be re-educated, warned, fined or punished according to the laws, as determined on a case by case basis.
Final Provisions
The Government of the Lao PDR is entrusted to implement this law.
This law shall come into force after thirty days from the date of the promulgating decree issued by the President of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic.
All regulations and provisions that contravene this law are null and void.
President of National Assembly
[Seal and signature]
Pany Yathortou
Download English:Law on Tourism (Amended) No. 32/NA, dated 24 July 2013
Download Lao:Law on Tourism (Amended) No. 32/NA, dated 24 July 2013