From January to May 2023, Bokeo province reported that 116,142 tourists entered across the 4th Lao-Thai International Friendship Bridge and through the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone Border Checkpoint.
The Provincial Department of Information, Culture, and Tourism reported that international tourists, alongside 7,300 domestic visitors, in Bokeo generated more than USD 5.8 million in revenue.
The rise in the number of visitors compared to the same period last year is more than 96,000, which is an increase of 484 percent.
The Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge 4 alone saw 57,867 visitors, which includes 48,947 passport-holding tourists and 8,920 border-pass visitors, resulting in a USD 2.9 million revenue.
The Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone Crossing attracted 58,275 visitors, including 48,412 passport-holding tourists and 9,863 border-pass visitors, generating more than USD 2.9 million.
The province received 66,593 visitors from 9 ASEAN countries, 27,437 from 30 Asian and Pacific nations, 18,480 from 38 European nations, 3,450 from 15 northern and southern American nations, and 182 from 12 African and Middle Eastern nations.
SEZs in Laos have recently been in the news for not just attracting tourists but also generating employment for over 60,000 people across the country.
https://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/16.jpg6271200Soutsada Xaphouvonghttps://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Lao-Simply-Beautiful-.webpSoutsada Xaphouvong2023-06-30 09:00:002023-06-28 10:17:47Over 100,000 Tourists Enter Laos via Bokeo Province in 2023
The airport, which was expected to wrap up construction by May, is now planning to start operations by November or December of this year.
The cost of construction is estimated to be at around USD 175 million, covering an area of 300 hectares.
Construction began in September 2020 and the airport is being built according to the safety standards of the Department of Civil Aviation in Laos and the International Civil Aviation Organization, according to Lao Post.
The runway is 2,500 meters long, 45 meters wide with the shoulder of the runway having a width of 7.5 meters on each side, which is built according to the Aerodrome Reference Code 4C.
Bokeo airport at 90% completion. (Photo: Laopost)
Zhao Wei, Chairman of the Executive Council of the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone, discussed the progress of the airport during a recent media interview.
He said, “The airport construction is nearing its final stages before completion. All there is left to do is the interior and exterior decorations for the passenger building, installation of aviation communication system equipment, including security systems and other amenities in the building.”
Runway at Bokeo airport. (Photo: Laopost)
A runway of such length and width is sufficient to handle take-off and landings of most single-aisle narrow body aircraft such as the Boeing 737-900ER, the Airbus A320 / A321 which are able to accommodate up to 200 passengers.
Zhao Wei added that there are also plans underway for an extension of the current runway and passenger building, to accommodate the Boeing 747 aircraft, which is capable of carrying up to 600 passengers at a time.
The airport is located five kilometers from Bokeo’s Special Economic Zone and 60 kilometers from Bokeo’s Houayxay region.
According to Mr. Phoun Khampha, the director of Bokeo Airport, once it starts operations, the airport will be able to manage passenger traffic of up to 2 million people annually.
https://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Bokeo-1.jpg6271200Soutsada Xaphouvonghttps://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Lao-Simply-Beautiful-.webpSoutsada Xaphouvong2023-06-29 08:30:002023-06-27 10:41:35Bokeo Airport Completes 90% Construction, Operations to Start This Year
The province’s five-year tourism plan hopes to attract 4 million tourists by 2025. Currently, at its midway point, Luang Prabang has seen 1.1 million tourists spending over USD 500 million.
In the last two years and five months, the UNESCO heritage site has seen only 26.4 percent of the targeted amount of tourists, primarily due to the slow rebound of tourism following the Covid-19 crisis. Over the next two years, the province aims to attract 3 million tourists yielding at least USD 566 million in tourism revenue, according to the Luang Prabang News.
Mrs. Soudaphone Khomthavong, Director of Luang Prabang’s Department of Information, Culture, and Tourism, said the province has prioritized tourism as a pillar for socio-economic development in the region.
In the first five months of 2023, a total of 437,374 tourists visited the province, with 396,742 of them being international tourists. Thailand ranked first as the country with the most people visiting Luang Prabang, followed by the United States, and China.
“Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and global financial crisis, Luang Prabang can still maintain the title of being a world heritage city and a leading destination for tourists”, said Soudaphone.
She added that Luang Prabang province authorities are periodically evaluating tourism figures and monitoring visitor feedback to maintain its standards as one of the most popular destinations in Laos that aims to provide international levels of hospitality to its guests.
The province is also developing small and medium-sized attractions with modern infrastructure and facilities for tourists where it plans to organize activities to promote Luang Prabang culture, its various festivals, and food.
https://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/loungphabang.jpg6271200Soutsada Xaphouvonghttps://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Lao-Simply-Beautiful-.webpSoutsada Xaphouvong2023-06-28 10:10:002023-06-23 14:39:21Luang Prabang Plans to Attract 4 Million Tourists by 2025
Over 100,000 Tourists Enter Laos via Bokeo Province in 2023
From January to May 2023, Bokeo province reported that 116,142 tourists entered across the 4th Lao-Thai International Friendship Bridge and through the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone Border Checkpoint.
The Provincial Department of Information, Culture, and Tourism reported that international tourists, alongside 7,300 domestic visitors, in Bokeo generated more than USD 5.8 million in revenue.
The rise in the number of visitors compared to the same period last year is more than 96,000, which is an increase of 484 percent.
The Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge 4 alone saw 57,867 visitors, which includes 48,947 passport-holding tourists and 8,920 border-pass visitors, resulting in a USD 2.9 million revenue.
The Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone Crossing attracted 58,275 visitors, including 48,412 passport-holding tourists and 9,863 border-pass visitors, generating more than USD 2.9 million.
The province received 66,593 visitors from 9 ASEAN countries, 27,437 from 30 Asian and Pacific nations, 18,480 from 38 European nations, 3,450 from 15 northern and southern American nations, and 182 from 12 African and Middle Eastern nations.
SEZs in Laos have recently been in the news for not just attracting tourists but also generating employment for over 60,000 people across the country.
source: https://laotiantimes.com/2023/06/23/over-100000-tourists-enter-laos-via-bokeo-province-in-2023/
Bokeo Airport Completes 90% Construction, Operations to Start This Year
The airport, which was expected to wrap up construction by May, is now planning to start operations by November or December of this year.
The cost of construction is estimated to be at around USD 175 million, covering an area of 300 hectares.
Construction began in September 2020 and the airport is being built according to the safety standards of the Department of Civil Aviation in Laos and the International Civil Aviation Organization, according to Lao Post.
The runway is 2,500 meters long, 45 meters wide with the shoulder of the runway having a width of 7.5 meters on each side, which is built according to the Aerodrome Reference Code 4C.
Zhao Wei, Chairman of the Executive Council of the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone, discussed the progress of the airport during a recent media interview.
He said, “The airport construction is nearing its final stages before completion. All there is left to do is the interior and exterior decorations for the passenger building, installation of aviation communication system equipment, including security systems and other amenities in the building.”
A runway of such length and width is sufficient to handle take-off and landings of most single-aisle narrow body aircraft such as the Boeing 737-900ER, the Airbus A320 / A321 which are able to accommodate up to 200 passengers.
Zhao Wei added that there are also plans underway for an extension of the current runway and passenger building, to accommodate the Boeing 747 aircraft, which is capable of carrying up to 600 passengers at a time.
The airport is located five kilometers from Bokeo’s Special Economic Zone and 60 kilometers from Bokeo’s Houayxay region.
According to Mr. Phoun Khampha, the director of Bokeo Airport, once it starts operations, the airport will be able to manage passenger traffic of up to 2 million people annually.
source: https://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-admin/post.php?post=5068&action=edit
Luang Prabang Plans to Attract 4 Million Tourists by 2025
The province’s five-year tourism plan hopes to attract 4 million tourists by 2025. Currently, at its midway point, Luang Prabang has seen 1.1 million tourists spending over USD 500 million.
In the last two years and five months, the UNESCO heritage site has seen only 26.4 percent of the targeted amount of tourists, primarily due to the slow rebound of tourism following the Covid-19 crisis. Over the next two years, the province aims to attract 3 million tourists yielding at least USD 566 million in tourism revenue, according to the Luang Prabang News.
Mrs. Soudaphone Khomthavong, Director of Luang Prabang’s Department of Information, Culture, and Tourism, said the province has prioritized tourism as a pillar for socio-economic development in the region.
In the first five months of 2023, a total of 437,374 tourists visited the province, with 396,742 of them being international tourists. Thailand ranked first as the country with the most people visiting Luang Prabang, followed by the United States, and China.
“Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and global financial crisis, Luang Prabang can still maintain the title of being a world heritage city and a leading destination for tourists”, said Soudaphone.
She added that Luang Prabang province authorities are periodically evaluating tourism figures and monitoring visitor feedback to maintain its standards as one of the most popular destinations in Laos that aims to provide international levels of hospitality to its guests.
The province is also developing small and medium-sized attractions with modern infrastructure and facilities for tourists where it plans to organize activities to promote Luang Prabang culture, its various festivals, and food.
source: https://laotiantimes.com/2023/06/22/luang-prabang-plans-to-attract-4-million-tourists-by-2025/