Laos Draws 1.36 Million Tourists in First Three Months of 2026, Up 8 Percent

Laos welcomed 1.36 million tourists in the first three months of the year, marking an eight percent increase compared to the same period last year, according to official data.

January saw the highest number of visitors, while February recorded the lowest monthly total during the period.

Data from the Tourism Development Department shows that Thailand remained the largest source market, accounting for nearly 31 percent of total arrivals, marking a slight increase compared to the same period last year. China and Vietnam ranked second and third, respectively.

South Korea placed fourth, while the United States rounded out the top five, with arrivals rising 38.8 percent year-on-year.

Beyond regional markets, arrivals from Europe surged 52 percent, while tourism from Africa and the Middle East increased by 45 percent.

In terms of growth rate, the United Arab Emirates recorded the highest increase, rising 215 percent compared to the same period last year. Brazil and Greece followed, each posting growth of around 152 percent.

The first-quarter results build on a strong 2025 for Lao tourism. 

Laos welcomed nearly 4.6 million tourists last year, which surpassed the government’s annual target of 4.3 million visitors.

With momentum building, the Lao government has set an ambitious target of welcoming between 5 and 6 million international visitors in 2026,  a significant step up from last year’s total. 

Chinese tourists are expected to make up approximately 2 million of those arrivals, driven in part by the 65th anniversary of Lao-China diplomatic relations and growing interest in travel via the Laos-China Railway.

Looking further ahead, Laos has outlined a five-year plan for 2026 to 2030 targeting 43 million total visitors, with a combined revenue goal of at least USD 13 billion.

source: https://laotiantimes.com/2026/04/27/laos-draws-1-36-million-tourists-in-first-three-months-of-2026-up-8-percent/