Laos sees 3.3 mln int’l tourists in first 10 months of 2024

VIENTIANE, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) — Laos welcomed 3.3 million foreign visitors in the first 10 months of 2024, a 19 percent increase from the same period last year, according to the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism.
From January to October, Thailand, Vietnam and China were top sources of foreign tourists to Laos, according to the ministry’s latest report.
To bolster tourist numbers during Visit Laos Year 2024, the government has approved visa-free entry and extended the duration of stay for tourists from certain countries.
Under the Visit Laos Year 2024 campaign, tourism authorities and operators have improved services at hotels, guesthouses, and restaurants, and added facilities at tourist sites to provide a better visitor experience.
Speaking at the ongoing eighth ordinary session of the National Assembly’s ninth legislature, Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone said that in 2025, the government will promote tourism by targeting specific groups and collaborating closely with all sectors of society, with a particular emphasis on strengthening the partnership between the government and the private sector. ■