Ounthuang said that the current priority of Laos is tovaccinate at least 50 percent of its population against COVID-19 by the end ofthis year.
As of October 23, only 43.55 percent of the Lao populationhad received a dose of COVID-19 vaccine and 37.24 percent have been vaccinatedfully.
Therefore, the country has yet to set a date to welcome thereturn of vaccinated foreign tourists, the deputy minister said.
According to him, after over 50 percent of the population isinoculated fully and the pandemic situation gets better, Laos may reopen itsborders to vaccinated tourists, with those from neighbouring countries, especiallyVietnam, China and ASEAN countries, receiving the priority./.