Laos
Laos tightens entry requirements, tour operators obliged to provide confirmed hotel bookings for duration of stay.
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: 17 Dec 2026.
Latest Travel Industry News
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15-May-2026 🛬 inboundLaos has strengthened its entry requirements, with tour operators obliged to provide confirmed hotel bookings for their guests’ entire stay when applying for permission to bring in tourists to Laos. This move is to boost security as well as integrate accommodation data into its tourism management systemSource: english.news.cn/20260515/f27b58746afe479d947681a1e6998ac6/c.html
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15-May-2026 🛬 inboundSouthern Stone Survey and Design Co. have signed an MoU to develop nature-based tourism on Don Sanlat in Champasak provinceSource: facebook.com/groups/tourismprofessionalsinlaos/posts/4518329448451853/
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14-May-2026 🛬 inboundChampasak province is preparing to repair the road from the Nong Nok Khiene border checkpoint in Laos to the Trapeang Kriel border checkpoint in CambodiaSource: facebook.com/groups/tourismprofessionalsinlaos/posts/4516987085252756/
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14-May-2026 🛬 inboundDao Heuang Co. and Fujiwara Co., are in discussions with the Vientiane Capital City Department of Culture and tourism to repaint and renovate the Chao Anouvong statueSource: facebook.com/groups/tourismprofessionalsinlaos/posts/4517068735244591/
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13-May-2026 🛬 inboundAttapeu province is targeting to restore over 8,800 hectares of forest in 2026, 8,200 of which on degraded landSource: laotiantimes.com/2026/05/13/attapeu-to-restore-8800-hectares-of-forest-in-2026-amid-rising-environmental-pressures/
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13-May-2026 🛬 inboundTour operators must submit passenger name lists, passport details, travel itineraries, arrival and departure checkpoints, hotel confirmations for every night of the trip, daily activity schedules and tour guide informationSource: laotiantimes.com/2026/05/13/laos-orders-travel-companies-to-attach-hotel-booking-confirmations-of-clients/
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11-May-2026 🛬 inboundRussia is considering its first petroleum products delivery to Laos, routing the shipment via Vietnamese portsSource: laotiantimes.com/2026/05/11/russia-considers-first-fuel-shipment-to-laos/
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11-May-2026 👨✈️ aviationLao Airlines has launched a once weekly flight service between Vientiane-Shenzhen from 16 MaySource: facebook.com/LaoAirlines/posts/pfbid021XFieGJHsSVA4x3yA3GTtfDGG2UwouhRg2XZHmxscBfkQrFK5N3FXipQ2HdKyxgHl
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8-May-2026 🛬 inboundCambodia, Laos and Vietnam committed to boost their cooperation across all sectors, including tourism connectivity, including increasing direct flights between the 3 countriesSource: english.news.cn/asiapacific/20260508/4cdacebd20944fad868aec1c8df9721c/c.html
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7-May-2026 🛬 inboundFeasibility studies are being undertaken for an expressway that would stretch from Vientiane Capital to the Vietnam border in the northeast of LaosSource: laotiantimes.com/2026/05/07/route-surveys-advance-for-laos-planned-longest-expressway-in-xaysomboun/
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7-May-2026 🛬 inboundLuang Namtha will hold provincial-level guide training from 15 May-15 JuneSource: facebook.com/groups/tourismprofessionalsinlaos/posts/4509755835975881/
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4-May-2026 🛬 inboundThe China-Laos Railway saw passenger traffic through the border crossing at Mohan up 8.8% YoY in the first 3 days of the May Day holiday, with 3,300 crossingsSource: bastillepost.com/global/article/5828793-china%E2%80%91laos-railway-sees-may-day-tourism-surge-mohan-port-traffic-up-8-8-pct
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4-May-2026 🛬 inboundVietnam will buy more electricity from Laos under a new government directive aimed at carrying more power to northern VietnamSource: nationthailand.com/news/world/40065822
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4-May-2026 🛬 inboundA workshop on “Tourism-Zero” supported by the EU was held at the National University of Laos, with 4 courses on zero-waste tourismSource: facebook.com/groups/tourismprofessionalsinlaos/posts/4506446632973468/
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30-Apr-2026 🛬 inboundLaos and Thailand have met and agreed on new steps to limit transboundary haze under the CLEAR Sky Strategy 2030Source: laotiantimes.com/2026/04/30/laos-thailand-step-up-fight-against-cross-border-haze/
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30-Apr-2026 🛬 inboundA new Vientiane 4* hotel, Onelux Grand Hotel, saw its ceremonial foundation stone laidSource: facebook.com/groups/tourismprofessionalsinlaos/posts/4502631140021684/
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29-Apr-2026 🛬 inboundThe Ministry of Culture and Tourism is looking to link its four southern provinces together as a connected tourism destination, to create new routes and encourage visitors to stay for longer, linking with tourist attractions in Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand. The Ministry called for improvements to the tourist sector, including access roads, signage, viewpoints, toilets, accommodation and restaurantsSource: asianews.network/laos-southern-provinces-eye-joint-tourism-circuit-regional-links/
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28-Apr-2026 🛬 inboundInflation in Apr 2026 was recorded at 10.2%, up from March 2026’s 9.7% and Feb 2026’s 6.2%. Transport saw an increase of 23.7% YoY, whilst housing, water, electricity and cooking fuel were +19.4%. Diesel prices in Apr 2026 were at $1.98 USD, up from Feb’s $0.91 USDSource: laotiantimes.com/2026/04/28/laos-inflation-rises-to-10-2-in-april-as-fuel-and-household-costs-climb/
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27-Apr-2026 🛬 inboundLuang Prabang saw a 46% YoY decline in visitor numbers over Pi Mai Lao, with 68,126 visitors between 10-20 Apr vs 2025’s 126,846 in 2025. International arrivals declined by 42%, domestic by 48%. China was the top international market (2,102 visitors, +105% YoY), Thailand (1,207, -75% YoY) and Vietnam (+142% YoY). In revenue, Luang Prabang generated $52.2 million USD in 2026, vs $97.5 million USD in 2025. The average stay for domestic visitors was 3D2N with a spend of $109 USD pp, whilst international visitors was 5D4N and $300 USD ppSource: laotiantimes.com/2026/04/27/luang-prabang-tourism-halves-year-on-year-during-pi-mai-lao/
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27-Apr-2026 🛬 inboundLaos saw 1.36 million international tourists in Q1 2026, +8% YoY. Jan 2026 recorded 537,267, Feb 2026 365,340 and Mar 456,840. Thailand accounted for 31% of total arrivals, at 415,580. China and Vietnam were the second largest arrivals market, South Korea 4th and the U.S. 5th, with arrivals +38.8% YoY. ASEAN overall accounted for 52% of arrivals, at 705,228 (+4.7% YoY), Europe 158,995 (+52.5% YoY), Asia Pacific 31.7% share (-1.1% YoY) and Americas 55,155, +38.7% YoYSource: laotiantimes.com/2026/04/27/laos-draws-1-36-million-tourists-in-first-three-months-of-2026-up-8-percent/
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27-Apr-2026 🛬 inboundA new agritourism product is being developed in Xieng Lom, Luang Prabang, with an “orchestrated waterfall”Source: vientianetimes.org.la/freefreenews/freecontent_77_The_infinite_y26.php
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24-Apr-2026 🛬 inboundLuang Prabang is being reported as the busiest passenger hub on the Laos-China Railway line – it has served more than 4.36 mil passengers since its opening. From 10-20 Apr, Luang Prabang saw 68,126 visitors, of whom 27,251 were international. The top source market to Luang Prabang was China, followed by Thailand and VietnamSource: english.news.cn/20260424/2e7046d1179a47b4bc1f97244f187704/c.html
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24-Apr-2026 🛬 inboundAfter a fatal overnight bus crash in Bolikhamxay Province that killed 8 people, Analine Travel Co., Ltd has seen the suspension of all of its passenger transport services. The Ministry of Public Works and Transport has called for inspection of passenger vehicles and driver qualifications, which should be completed by 2026Source: laotiantimes.com/2026/04/24/travel-company-suspended-after-deadly-bus-crash-in-bolikhamxay/
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22-Apr-2026 🛬 inboundThe Deputy PM visited Beijing, meeting President Xi as well as Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. China pledged to support Laos in development strategies, including whole-industry chain cooperation in minerals and electricity and the country’s economic transformationSource: laotiantimes.com/2026/04/22/lao-deputy-prime-minister-saleumxay-meets-xi-jinping-in-beijing/
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22-Apr-2026 👨✈️ aviationLao Airlines launched its Vietiane-Jiayang flight on 21 AprSource: facebook.com/LaoAirlines/posts/pfbid02rkYKt75LNzmQTcEXfTQdj4q1iYuNkxNEgjb9qmnppkgmtpbigdKFqAahiKACvjHel
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22-Apr-2026 👨✈️ aviationVietjet will reduce its services on the HCMC – Vientiane toute to 4 flights per week, from 7 timesSource: facebook.com/groups/tourismprofessionalsinlaos/posts/4494079690876829/
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21-Apr-2026 🛬 inboundRed lanterns have been removed from Chang cave in Vang Vieng over concerns that they were not aligned with Lao cultureSource: laotiantimes.com/2026/04/21/red-lanterns-removed-from-vang-viengs-chang-cave-over-un-lao-concerns/
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