VIENTIANE: Laos has unveiled its Tourism Development Master Plan 2026-2030, aiming to attract 22 million visitors over the next five years despite ongoing global economic uncertainty, geopolitical tensions, and natural disasters.
According to Socio-Economic News on Wednesday (July 29), the target was announced during a tourism market promotion seminar held in Lao capital Vientiane. The event was chaired by Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Dalany Phommavongsa and attended by representatives from the public and private tourism sectors.
Speaking at the meeting on Monday, Dalany said the event provided an important platform for stakeholders to exchange ideas and build consensus on implementing the country's tourism development strategy for 2026-2030.
She acknowledged that achieving the goal of 22 million visitors in the period will be challenging due to the uncertain global environment, including economic and political tensions, conflicts in the Middle East, and the growing impact of natural disasters on international travel.
To address these challenges, she stressed that effective tourism marketing will play a vital role in promoting government policies, showcasing the country's socio-economic achievements, and attracting more visitors to Laos' cultural, natural, historical, and agricultural tourism destinations.
Participants also reviewed future tourism promotion policies presented by the ministry and shared recommendations from private-sector businesses, whose insights into market trends and visitor preferences will help shape practical and effective tourism policies.
More than 2.5 million foreign tourists visited Laos in the first half of 2026, an increase of 9.87 per cent compared to the figures for the same period in 2025. - Xinhua
