Lao airport can receive 2.3 million foreign tourists annually
The Wattay International Airport in the Lao capital of Vientiane is now able to accommodate as many as 2.3 million foreign travellers a year, roughly nine times the original terminal’s capacity, according to the Nikkei Asian Review’s edition published on August 10.
Vientiane (VNA) – The WattayInternational Airport in the Lao capital of Vientiane is now able toaccommodate as many as 2.3 million foreign travellers a year, roughly ninetimes the original terminal’s capacity, according to the Nikkei Asian Review’sedition published on August 10.
Japanese construction company Hazama Ando,which managed the expansion project at the airport, officially passed theterminal over the Lao Airports Authority on August 9.
The same day, Japanese aviation servicesprovider Jalux and trading house Toyota Tsusho agreed to a 10-year extension oftheir management of the terminal in a joint venture with local concerns.
Laos is keen to become a travel destination andthe expanded terminal plays a key role.
The Lao government expects the number of peoplearriving in the country on international flights to reach 1.51 million in2023.
The expansion project helped double the size ofthe airport’s international terminal to 25,000 square meters. A newtwo-storey domestic terminal will be built on 7,000 square meters.
The airport upgrading projectscost roughly 9.7 billion JPY (87.4 million USD), with some 9 billionJPY of that covered by a yen loan backed by the Japanese government.-VNA
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Wattay International Airport (Source: internet) 
