A sea of fog hangs over the valley below Phou Phadeng mountain in Ngoy district, Luang Prabang province. - Tourism Luang Prabang
VIENTIANE: More than 3.7 million foreign tourists visited Laos in the first 10 months of this year, an increase of 13 per cent compared to the same period last year, according to the Tourism Development Department, Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
The main contributors to this surge were Thailand, Vietnam and China. Statistics compiled by the department show that 1,236,626 Thai nationals visited Laos, followed by 959,575 from Vietnam, 914,194 from China, 151,010 from the Republic of Korea, 46,429 from France, and 22,144 from Germany.
The increase is attributed to improvements in tourism facilities and services, including the high-speed railway, which has become a very popular means of travel. The line passes through Vangvieng, Luang Prabang and Oudomxay provinces, all of which offer numerous attractions for visitors.
Laos has been widely featured in foreign newspapers and magazines, raising international awareness of the country’s offerings and affordable prices.
This year, Luang Prabang city achieved another milestone in global recognition after being awarded the Green Destinations 2025-2027 Silver Level Certification, becoming the first city in Laos and the first among the Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam grouping to earn this distinction.
Last year, Luang Prabang city won an award in the 2024 Green Destinations Top 100 Stories category, in recognition of its efforts to promote responsible tourism and preserve its unique appeal.
Laos was one of 32 countries featured in this category, with Luang Prabang the first and only destination in Laos selected for inclusion in the 2024 Top 100 Destination Sustainability Stories listing under the theme “Preservation of architectural housing styles in a world heritage area”.
Laos’ distinctive attractions have been cited in several foreign publications and websites, with river trips through the Nam Et-Phou Louey National Park in Huaphan province listed among the world’s top 10 best night safaris in an article posted on the Condé Nast Traveler website in 2023. - Vientiane Times/ANN
