Laos works to boost tourism as fuel for economic growth
Initiatives include expanding media promotion, promoting digital payments and modernising border checkpoints to attract more visitors and boost economic growth.
The Lao government also plans to review visa policies and strengthen regional cooperation. These measures aim to position the South-East Asian country as a more accessible, competitive and sustainable tourism destination.
Maikham, a hotel staff member in northern Laos' Luang Prabang province, emphasised the importance of continuously improving service standards to meet visitor satisfaction and attract tourists for repeat visits.
Maikham said that the growing number of visitors not only boosts economic growth but also inspires local communities to enhance their services, maintain cleaner environments, and create more cultural experiences for tourists.
She also expressed strong support for national efforts to attract more tourists and stressed the importance of community involvement in the country's tourism sector.
Laos is continuing its national tour guide training programme to build a skilled and sufficient workforce that meets the growing demands of the tourism sector.
Kanchana, a resident of Vientiane province, stressed enhancing the service mindset of the Lao people to welcome diverse tourists.
She noted that local residents should be equipped with basic tourism knowledge to better assist visitors.
Chanhphieng, a vendor in Luang Prabang, highlighted the need to offer more creative and diverse food, drinks, services and activities to keep tourists engaged and encourage them to return.
In an effort to attract more visitors, the Lao Ministry of Culture and Tourism is preparing for the second Visit Laos-China Year, with a focus on strengthening tourism promotion and attracting more Chinese tourists. In 2024, Laos welcomed 1,048,035 Chinese visitors, and in the first half of 2025, 602,103 Chinese tourists were recorded, indicating continued growth.
Laos aims to attract 4.3 million international tourists in 2025, with expectations to generate over US$1 billion in revenue. - Xinhua
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