Tourists pose in front of the Patuxay monument in Vientiane, Laos. - Photo: Xinhua file
VIENTIANE: (Bernama-Xinhua) Laos received 2.6 million foreign visitors in the first eight months of 2024, up 19 per cent from 2.2 million over the same period last year, reported Xinhua.
From January to August, Thailand, Vietnam and China were the top sources of foreign tourists for Laos, Lao Economic Daily reported on Saturday (Oct 5).
Meanwhile, Laos saw a total of 2.3 million domestic travel trips in the eight months, an 84.2 per cent surge from the previous year.
Laos has generated approximately US$801 million in revenue from international tourists so far this year.
Laos' Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism hopes that more than six million Lao and foreign tourists will visit the country in 2024.
In a bid 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.
In addition, the Lao government organised a national tour guide training course to produce more qualified personnel to support tourism growth in Laos and address the shortage of skilled workers in the field. - Bernama-Xinhua
