Laos
Laos welcomes 2.6 mil int'l tourists in H1 2026, +10% YoY; APAC arrivals decline by 7% YoY, driven by drop from Korea.
Latest monthly intl arrivals
456,840
Mar 2026
Recovery vs 2019
116%
Mar 2019: 393,497
YTD Intl Arrivals
4,120,832
No 2024 data
Percent of 2024 Target
153%
of 2.7M target
Source: Intl arrivals - Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism. Page last updated: 2 Aug 2026.
Latest Travel Industry News
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31-Jul-2026 🛬 inboundLaos has launched a national digital identity app, LAeID nationwide, which will give citizens access to their ID digitally, and gradually replace other paper documentsSource: laotiantimes.com/2026/07/31/laos-rolls-out-nationwide-digital-identity-app-phases-out-paper-documents/
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31-Jul-2026 🛬 inboundLaos will expand its marketing channels, upgrade visitor information services and enhance cooperation with domestic and international partners to boost its tourism industry. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism is looking for government approval of a Visit Laos-China Year program to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the 2 countries’ relations. From 2026-2030, Laos will expand its campaigns to reach more target groups and attend more tourism exhibitions domestically and internationallySource: thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2026/07/31/laos-steps-up-tourism-promotion-to-attract-more-visitors
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31-Jul-2026 👨✈️ aviationLao Airlines will operate flights Luang Prabang-Bangkok Suvarnabhumi from 25 Oct 2026Source: facebook.com/groups/tourismprofessionalsinlaos/posts/4600102816941182/
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30-Jul-2026 🛬 inboundKhammuan authorities have granted a 5,600sqm land concession to a Lao company to build a hotel and tourist facilities in Thakhaek districtSource: facebook.com/groups/tourismprofessionalsinlaos/posts/4598926697058794/
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29-Jul-2026 🛬 inboundThe Tourism Development Master Plan 2026-2030 was launched, which will aim to attract 22 million visitors over 5 yearsSource: thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2026/07/29/laos-seeks-to-boost-tourism-despite-global-uncertainty
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28-Jul-2026 🛬 inboundThe China-Laos Railway has seen an average of 53.2 trains operate daily from Kunming-Xishuangbanna from 1 Jul over the summer travel period, with 11,000 passenger entries and exits at the Mohan checkpointSource: thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2026/07/28/china-laos-railway-delivers-success-for-trade-and-tourism
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28-Jul-2026 🛬 inboundLaos has welcomed 2,590,511 foreign tourists in H1 2026, +9.87% YoY. The largest source markets were Thailand (833,738), followed by China (675,365) and Vietnam (586,190), together comprising of 80.9% of total arrivals. The fourth largest source market was South Korea (69,051), fifth place the US (53,446). The growth was uneven across provinces, with visitor arrivals declining in Luang Prabang province, attributed to higher travel costsSource: newswav.com/article/laos-foreign-tourist-arrivals-rise-9-87-to-2-59-million-in-first-half-A2607_FTCsYX
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25-Jul-2026 🛬 inboundThe Laos PM has urged for stronger economic development in the southern provinces in raw mineral processing, hydropower, solar and wind projects, promoting EVs and improving tourism servicesSource: kpl.gov.la/En/detail.aspx
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25-Jul-2026 🛬 inboundAn agreement to position Laos as a biodiverse tourism destination in Asia through conservation based tourism has been signed by government agencies and the private sector, in Oudomxay ProvinceSource: kpl.gov.la/en/detail.aspx/detail.aspx
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23-Jul-2026 🛬 inboundThe Laos President has called for more action to protect the Xong River through stopping illegal mineral extraction, improving urban management and enhancing tourism standards in Vangvieng, to ensure Vangvieng’s position as an attractive tourism destinationSource: thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2026/07/23/lao-president-calls-for-stronger-environmental-protection-sustainable-tourism-in-vangvieng
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22-Jul-2026 🛬 inboundAustralia’s Foreign Minister has urged Laos to launch a transparent investigation into the 2024 methanol poisoning of 2 Australian tourists, making it clear that “Australia expects the Lao Government to ensure this investigation fully reflects the seriousness of this tragedy and that those responsible are held properly to account”Source: straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/australia-laos-top-diplomats-discuss-tainted-alcohol-deaths
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22-Jul-2026 🛬 inboundAPAC arrivals into Laos declined in H1 2026 by 6.9% YoY, driven largely by a fall of 33.2% YoY in Korean arrivalsSource: facebook.com/groups/tourismprofessionalsinlaos/posts/4590751484542982/
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20-Jul-2026 🛬 inboundLaos has stated that they cannot put the blame or cause of the 2024 tourist deaths to methanol-tainted alcohol, as it said that “the authorities were not permitted to conduct autopsies on the bodies of the deceased, and therefore lacked the forensic evidence necessary to determine the cause of death”Source: khmertimeskh.com/501946152/cause-of-tourist-deaths-undetermined-says-laos/
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19-Jul-2026 🛬 inboundLaos has launched a new cultural association, the Lao Cultural Values Promotion Association, which will preserve national heritage and seek to position culture as a soft power, tourism attraction and economic driverSource: laotiantimes.com/2026/07/19/laos-launches-cultural-association-to-preserve-heritage-build-soft-power/
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18-Jul-2026 🛬 inboundDenmark’s foreign ministry has announced that a court in Laos has brought charges against a distillery owner in connection with the 6 deaths of foreign tourists in Vang Vieng in 2024. The charges to be brought were selling food that is harmful to health, and operating an illegal business. The Danish foreign ministry noted that they were deeply disappointed that the charges did not reflect the gravity of the deaths. The Australian families of those who died were also angry that the charges are minor ones, whilst the Australian foreign minister said that she was "deeply frustrated and bitterly disappointed" that “the most serious charges” weren’t being pursuedSource: thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2026/07/18/denmark-says-laos-filed-minor-charges-against-distillery-owner-for-tourists039-alcohol-deaths
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17-Jul-2026 🛬 inboundThe Australian government has issued a travel alert for Laos, urging travellers to “exercise a high degree of caution” due to the risks of methanol poisoning, crime, and “ongoing concerns around lack of transparency in the justice system”, following the 6 deaths of foreign nationals due to methanol poisoning in 2024Source: theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jul/17/distillery-owner-could-face-only-three-months-in-jail-over-alleged-poisoning-australian-teenagers
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14-Jul-2026 🛬 inboundVangvieng’s glass bridge, built by a Chinese company, is expected to open in Oct 2026. It will hold 400 people at one time, and will stand 128m above the valley floorSource: thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2026/07/14/laos-to-open-vangvieng-glass-bridge-to-tourists-in-october
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13-Jul-2026 🛬 inboundThe Lao PM during the 10th Lao National Assembly, noted that the government will focus on measures to address inflation, stabilise the value of the Lao kip, and make rural development and reduce the national poverty rate to 8% from the current 14.78%Source: en.vietnamplus.vn/laos-adopts-coordinated-steps-to-propel-economic-growth-post348220.vnp
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12-Jul-2026 🛬 inboundThe ADB have forecast that Laos’ economic growth for 2026 will be 4%, down from 2025’s 4.4%, whilst the World Bank forecast growth of 3.8% in 2026Source: thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2026/07/12/global-financial-bodies-warn-of-slower-growth-higher-inflation-for-laos-in-2026
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10-Jul-2026 🛬 inboundThe masterplan by Gensler for a Vang Vieng tourism development of 522 hectares has been launched, developed by Vang Villy Hill Co., with a focus on landscape, culture and sustainabilitySource: ttgasia.com/2026/07/10/gensler-unveils-tourism-blueprint-for-major-laos-development/
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10-Jul-2026 👨✈️ aviationLao Airlines will commence a direct flight from Luang Prabang-Chiang Mai from 20 JulSource: facebook.com/LaoAirlines/posts/pfbid02Srbff8CUSekYQyGjnozdgxoNavfJoXBfYBm7SANSwJd8kvYSR23RMa9puxXGck2Ll
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9-Jul-2026 🛬 inboundLaos has received 2.1 million international visitors in Jan-May 2026, 47% of its annual target, and +8% YoY. Tourism revenue reached $960 million USD. Domestic tourism saw 1.3 million trips recorded, 30% of the annual targetSource: thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2026/07/09/laos-records-over-21-million-foreign-tourist-arrivals-in-1st-five-months-2026
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9-Jul-2026 🛬 inboundThe Myanmar President undertook his first ASEAN state-level visit to Laosm concluding with a commitment to widen cooperation in defence, trade, tourism, manufacturing, education, healthcare, and energy development. It also saw the signing of an MoU between Nay Pyi Taw and Vientiane to establish sister-capital relations and tourism cooperationSource: gnlm.com.mm/myanmar-laos-state-visit-a-new-milestone-in-bilateral-relations-and-regional-cooperation/
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9-Jul-2026 🛬 inboundThe Ministry of Culture and Tourism launched the 34th National Tour Guide Training Programme with 67 people attending the course from 7 Jul-30 Sep in VientianeSource: facebook.com/groups/tourismprofessionalsinlaos/posts/4577634222521375/
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3-Jul-2026 👨✈️ aviationLao Airlines has added flights between Vientiane-Savannakhet on Fridays and SundaysSource: facebook.com/LaoAirlines/posts/pfbid02KXz8Q32pPDpEuiBoJUtGednARr7t3n3kQcShiETpJhrZTKVNEXaTUSfmsSwwUqfql
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