The Impact of COVID-19 on Tourism Enterprises in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic: An Initial Assessment

Yamano, Takashi; Pradhananga, Manisha; Schipani, Steven; Samson, Jindra Nuella G.; Quiao, Lotis; Leuangkhamsing, Soulinthone; Maddawin, Angelica

doi:10.22617/brf200187-2

Cited by 6 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…Tourism is an important source of revenue for many economies in developing Asia and the Pacific [50,60,61]. For countries like Palau, where international tourism receipts are close to 50% of the GDP (gross domestic product) and over a third of international tourists are from China, the decline in tourism due to COVID-19 has been devastating [60].…”

Section: Economymentioning

confidence: 99%

SARS-CoV-2 Wave Two Surveillance in East Asia and the Pacific: Longitudinal Trend Analysis

Post¹,

Lin²,

Moss³

et al. 2021

J Med Internet Res

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Background The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound global impact on governments, health care systems, economies, and populations around the world. Within the East Asia and Pacific region, some countries have mitigated the spread of the novel coronavirus effectively and largely avoided severe negative consequences, while others still struggle with containment. As the second wave reaches East Asia and the Pacific, it becomes more evident that additional SARS-CoV-2 surveillance is needed to track recent shifts, rates of increase, and persistence associated with the pandemic. Objective The goal of this study is to provide advanced surveillance metrics for COVID-19 transmission that account for speed, acceleration, jerk, persistence, and weekly shifts, to better understand country risk for explosive growth and those countries who are managing the pandemic successfully. Existing surveillance coupled with our dynamic metrics of transmission will inform health policy to control the COVID-19 pandemic until an effective vaccine is developed. We provide novel indicators to measure disease transmission. Methods Using a longitudinal trend analysis study design, we extracted 330 days of COVID-19 data from public health registries. We used an empirical difference equation to measure the daily number of cases in East Asia and the Pacific as a function of the prior number of cases, the level of testing, and weekly shift variables based on a dynamic panel model that was estimated using the generalized method of moments approach by implementing the Arellano-Bond estimator in R. Results The standard surveillance metrics for Indonesia, the Philippines, and Myanmar were concerning as they had the largest new caseloads at 4301, 2588, and 1387, respectively. When looking at the acceleration of new COVID-19 infections, we found that French Polynesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines had rates at 3.17, 0.22, and 0.06 per 100,000. These three countries also ranked highest in terms of jerk at 15.45, 0.10, and 0.04, respectively. Conclusions Two of the most populous countries in East Asia and the Pacific, Indonesia and the Philippines, have alarming surveillance metrics. These two countries rank highest in new infections in the region. The highest rates of speed, acceleration, and positive upwards jerk belong to French Polynesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines, and may result in explosive growth. While all countries in East Asia and the Pacific need to be cautious about reopening their countries since outbreaks are likely to occur in the second wave of COVID-19, the country of greatest concern is the Philippines. Based on standard and enhanced surveillance, the Philippines has not gained control of the COVID-19 epidemic, which is particularly troubling because the country ranks 4th in population in the region. Without extreme and rigid social distancing, quarantines, hygiene, and masking to reverse trends, the Philippines will remain on the global top 5 list of worst COVID-19 outbreaks resulting in high morbidity and mortality. The second wave will only exacerbate existing conditions and increase COVID-19 transmissions.

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Section: Economymentioning

confidence: 99%

SARS-CoV-2 Wave Two Surveillance in East Asia and the Pacific: Longitudinal Trend Analysis

Post¹,

Lin²,

Moss³

et al. 2021

J Med Internet Res

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show abstract

“…At the same time, however, the effects of the pandemic on food security and income and expenditures may be seen more strongly in Luang Prabang as compared with other provinces within Lao PDR. As the province is home to the UNESCO World Heritage City of Luang Prabang, Luang Prabang province receives a greater proportion of its income from tourism as compared with other provinces 24. Indeed, our survey found a greater proportion of household reduced expenditures (64%) compared with another, unpublished, survey in a different rural province, where 46% of households reduced expenditures (personal communication).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 51%

“…In 2019, Luang Prabang received about 638 000 international visitors and 222 000 domestic tourists. In May 2020, 78% of Luang Prabang’s tourism enterprises were closed, and those that remained open did so largely at partial capacity 24. This is particularly concerning, as the Luang Prabang province bears a disproportionate burden of children who are stunted (41.3%) or underweight (25%) 18.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in household food security, access to health services and income in northern Lao PDR during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional survey

Head

Chanthavilay

Catton³

et al. 2022

BMJ Open

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ObjectivesWe assessed the relative difficulty in meeting food needs during the COVID-19 pandemic compared with before; determined the relationship between pandemic-associated difficulties in food access and household, maternal and child food security; and identified resiliency-promoting strategies.DesignA cross-sectional survey of households undertaken in November 2020.SettingRural districts of Luang Prabang Province, Lao People’s Democratic Republic.ParticipantsHouseholds (N=1122) with children under 5 years.Primary and secondary outcomes measuredSurvey respondents reported the relative ease of access of food and healthcare as well as changes in income and expenditures compared with before March 2020. We determined indicators of food security and source of foods consumed for households, women and children, as well as prevalence of malnutrition in children under 5.ResultsNearly four-fifths (78.5%) found it harder to meet household food needs during the pandemic. The most common reasons were increased food prices (51.2%), loss of income (45.3%) and decreased food availability (36.6%). Adjusting for demographics, households with increased difficulty meeting food needs had lower food consumption scores and child dietary diversity. Over 85% of households lost income during the pandemic. Decreased expenditures was associated with reliance on more extreme coping strategies to meet food needs. The households who experienced no change in meeting food needs produced a greater percentage of their food from homegrown methods (4.22% more, 95% CI 1.28 to 7.15), than households who found it more difficult.ConclusionsPandemic-associated shocks may have large effects on food insecurity. Action is needed to mitigate consequences of the pandemic on nutrition. Local food production and safety net programmes that offset income losses may help.

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“…At the same time, however, the effects of the pandemic on food security and income and expenditures may be seen more strongly in Luang Prabang as compared to other provinces within Lao PDR. As the province is home to the UNESCO World Heritage City of Luang Prabang, Luang Prabang province receives a greater proportion of its income from tourism as compared to other provinces [20]. Indeed, our survey found a greater proportion of household reduced expenditures (64%) compared to another, unpublished, survey in a different rural province, where 46% of households reduced expenditures (personal communication).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 52%

“…In 2019, Luang Prabang received about 638,000 international visitors and 222,000 domestic tourists. In May 2020, 78% of Luang Prabang's tourism enterprises were closed, and those that remained open did so largely at partial capacity [20]. This is particularly concerning, as the Luang Prabang province bears a disproportionate burden of children who are stunted (41.3%) or underweight (25%) [14].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in household food security, access to health services, and income in northern Lao PDR during the COVID-19 pandemic

Head

Chanthavilay

Catton³

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Background: The COVID-19 pandemic is expected to exacerbate food insecurity in low and middle-income countries, through loss of income and disrupted food supply chains. Lao PDR has among the highest rates of malnutrition in Southeast Asia. We assessed the relative difficulty in meeting food needs during the COVID-19 pandemic in rural districts of Luang Prabang Province, Lao PDR compared to before; determined associations between pandemic-associated difficulties in food access and household, maternal and child food security; and identified resiliency-promoting strategies. Methods: In November 2020, households (N = 1,122) with children under five years were interviewed. Respondents reported the relative ease of access of food and health care as well as changes in income and expenditures compared to before March 2020. We used generalized linear models with cluster robust standard errors to assess univariate and multivariate associations. Results: Nearly four-fifths (78.5%) found it harder to meet household food needs during the pandemic. The most common reasons were increased food prices (51.2%), loss of income (45.3%), and decreased food availability (36.6%). Adjusting for demographics, households with increased difficulty meeting food needs had lower food consumption scores and child dietary diversity. Over 85% of households lost income during the pandemic. Decreased expenditures was associated with reliance on more extreme coping strategies to meet food needs. The households who experienced no change in meeting food needs produced a greater percentage of their food from homegrown methods (4.22% more, 95% CI: 1.28, 7.15), than households who found it more difficult. We estimated that decreases in child bodyweight by 0.5 - 1% would increase wasting in this population by 1.7 - 2.1 percentage points. Conclusions: Pandemic-associated shocks may have large effects on malnutrition prevalence. Action is needed to mitigate consequences of the pandemic on nutrition. Local food production and safety net programs that offset income losses may help.

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The Impact of COVID-19 on Tourism Enterprises in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic: An Initial Assessment

Cited by 6 publications

References 2 publications

SARS-CoV-2 Wave Two Surveillance in East Asia and the Pacific: Longitudinal Trend Analysis

SARS-CoV-2 Wave Two Surveillance in East Asia and the Pacific: Longitudinal Trend Analysis

Changes in household food security, access to health services and income in northern Lao PDR during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional survey

Changes in household food security, access to health services, and income in northern Lao PDR during the COVID-19 pandemic

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