Vientiane: Laos’ tourism sector is showing promising signs of recovery in 2025, with more than 3 million tourist arrivals recorded in the first eight months of the year.

According to Lao News Agency, more than 3 million visitors entered the Lao PDR between January and August 2025, highlighting a steady rebound for the sector following global and regional challenges.

The announcement was made during the 33rd National Tour Guide Training Programme, officially opened on October 13 in Vientiane.

Mr. Khampheuy noted that the tourism revival is particularly noticeable in key destinations such as Vientiane, Vang Vieng, Muang Feuang, Luang Prabang, Champassak, and other well-known tourist hotspots across the country.

The positive trend follows a strong performance in 2024, during which 4,120,832 international tourists visited Laos-a 21% increase compared to 2023. The tourism industry generated over USD 1.4 billion in revenue that year, supported by an average stay of 6.25 days and average spending of USD 74.53 p
er person per day.

Domestic tourism also contributed significantly to the sector’s growth. In 2024, Lao nationals made over 3.90 million domestic trips, marking a 103% increase from the previous year. These trips generated an additional USD 632 million in income, highlighting the growing importance of internal travel in Laos’ tourism recovery strategy.

Thailand remained the largest source of international visitors in 2024, with 1.21 million tourist arrivals. This is attributed to the countries’ shared border, ease of travel, and cultural similarities. Vietnam ranked second with over 1.05 million visitors, followed closely by China with over 1.04 million.

The Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism emphasized the importance of maintaining this positive momentum by continuing to strengthen tourism infrastructure, improve service quality, and invest in workforce development through initiatives such as national tour guide training programmes.