Laos welcomed 4,580,709 tourists in 2025, an 11 percent increase year-on-year that surpassed the government’s target of 4.3 million visitors, according to the Tourism Development Department.
The growth continues a strong post-pandemic recovery trend. In 2024, Laos attracted over 4.1 million visitors, nearly one million more than in 2023, with the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) ranking the country 13th globally among the world’s fastest-growing tourism destinations.
Most visitors came from Thailand, Vietnam, and China.
Laos has also earned recognition as one of the world’s most economical travel destinations for 2026, according to Indie Traveller magazine. Featured in “26 Amazing Cheap Places You Should Travel to in 2026,” the country offers exceptional value, with budget-conscious travelers able to explore for approximately USD 25 daily.
For 2026-2030, Laos targets to attract over 43 million total visitors, 21 million domestic and 22 million international tourists, averaging about 4.4 million annually, generating at least USD 13 billion in revenue, said Minister of Culture and Tourism Suansavanh Viyaket.
AFP – The United States said on 14 January it was suspending the processing of immigrant visas from 75 countries, President Donald Trump’s latest move against foreigners seeking to come to America.
The United States has long rejected visas from people who appear likely to end up needing government welfare, but the State Department said it would now use the same authority for a blanket suspension of immigrant visas based on nationality.
“The Trump administration is bringing an end to the abuse of America’s immigration system by those who would extract wealth from the American people,” State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said.
“Immigrant visa processing from these 75 countries will be paused while the State Department reassesses immigration processing procedures to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who would take welfare and public benefits,” he said.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt posted on X that the countries affected would include Somalia, whose people Trump has attacked in heated terms after immigrants were involved in a funding scandal in Minnesota, as well as Russia and Iran.
A US official said that the other countries affected would include a number of countries with friendly relations with the United States, including Brazil, Egypt and Thailand.
Other countries to face the pause include Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, as well as Iraq and Yemen, the official said.
The State Department did not immediately release a full list of countries.
The freeze will begin on 21 January with no set time for it to end, the US official, who was not authorized to speak to the press, said on condition of anonymity.
Trump has made no secret of his desire to reduce immigration by people who are not of European descent. He has described Somalis as “garbage” who should “go back to where they came from” and instead said he was open to Scandinavians moving to the United States.
The State Department said Monday that it has revoked more than 100,000 visas since Trump’s return, a one-year record.
The Department of Homeland Security last month said that the Trump administration has deported more than 605,000 people, and that 2.5 million others left on their own.
The latest move does not affect tourist, business or other visas, including for soccer fans seeking to visit for this year’s World Cup, although the Trump administration has vowed to vet all applicants’ social media histories.
https://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/LT-Website-Size-28-1.png6271200Soutsada Xaphouvonghttps://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Lao-Simply-Beautiful-.webpSoutsada Xaphouvong2026-01-15 10:20:002026-01-20 10:12:09US Suspends Immigrant Visa Processing for 75 Countries, Thailand, Cambodia on the List
The world’s longest train journey now runs from Singapore to Portugal, covering nearly 19,000 kilometers across 13 countries and linking Southeast Asia to Western Europe entirely by rail.
The Laos-China Railway (LCR) is a key player in this achievement, linking Southeast Asia and China’s extensive rail network.
The Route in a Nutshell
The journey begins in Singapore and travels north through Malaysia and Thailand before entering Laos.
The route then continues across China to Beijing, follows the Trans-Siberian Railway through Mongolia and Russia, to Moscow, and proceeds westward through Europe, passing through Belarus, Poland, Germany, France, and Spain, before reaching the final destination of Lisbon, Portugal.
Traveling back-to-back, the entire journey takes approximately 21 days, with the longest single leg being the seven-day, 7,622-kilometer Moscow-Beijing segment.
Laos-China Railway: The Crucial Connection
Inaugurated in December 2021, the 420-kilometer Laos-China Railway has transformed Laos from a “landlocked” to a “land-linked” nation. The railway has already carried over 62 million passengers on the Vientiane-Kunming route and more than 12 million passengers within Laos.
Most significantly, the LCR provides the critical overland connection between Southeast Asia and China’s extensive rail network, enabling seamless travel from Singapore all the way to Europe.
Without this railway linking Vientiane to Kunming, the Singapore-to-Portugal route would not be possible.
Currently, a 15-kilometer bus connection near Vientiane links the LCR with the Laos-Thailand Railway. However, construction of a new railway bridge across the Mekong River between Vientiane and Nong Khai will soon create a direct rail link, further enhancing connectivity as part of Laos’ transformation into a regional transportation hub under China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
Challenges and the Future
While this route represents a unique route in global rail connectivity, geopolitical tensions present challenges. Since 2022, the suspension of rail services has blocked direct train travel across Russia’s western borders, requiring travelers to make alternative arrangements.
https://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Lao-Simply-Beautiful-.webp00Soutsada Xaphouvonghttps://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Lao-Simply-Beautiful-.webpSoutsada Xaphouvong2026-01-13 10:03:282026-01-20 10:06:45Laos-China Railway Enables Record-Breaking Journey from Singapore to Portugal
Laos Welcomes Nearly 4.6 Million Tourists in 2025, Surpassing Annual Target
Laos welcomed 4,580,709 tourists in 2025, an 11 percent increase year-on-year that surpassed the government’s target of 4.3 million visitors, according to the Tourism Development Department.
The growth continues a strong post-pandemic recovery trend. In 2024, Laos attracted over 4.1 million visitors, nearly one million more than in 2023, with the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) ranking the country 13th globally among the world’s fastest-growing tourism destinations.
Most visitors came from Thailand, Vietnam, and China.
Laos has also earned recognition as one of the world’s most economical travel destinations for 2026, according to Indie Traveller magazine. Featured in “26 Amazing Cheap Places You Should Travel to in 2026,” the country offers exceptional value, with budget-conscious travelers able to explore for approximately USD 25 daily.
For 2026-2030, Laos targets to attract over 43 million total visitors, 21 million domestic and 22 million international tourists, averaging about 4.4 million annually, generating at least USD 13 billion in revenue, said Minister of Culture and Tourism Suansavanh Viyaket.
source: https://laotiantimes.com/2026/01/16/laos-welcomes-nearly-4-6-million-tourists-in-2025-surpassing-annual-target/
US Suspends Immigrant Visa Processing for 75 Countries, Thailand, Cambodia on the List
AFP – The United States said on 14 January it was suspending the processing of immigrant visas from 75 countries, President Donald Trump’s latest move against foreigners seeking to come to America.
The United States has long rejected visas from people who appear likely to end up needing government welfare, but the State Department said it would now use the same authority for a blanket suspension of immigrant visas based on nationality.
“The Trump administration is bringing an end to the abuse of America’s immigration system by those who would extract wealth from the American people,” State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said.
“Immigrant visa processing from these 75 countries will be paused while the State Department reassesses immigration processing procedures to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who would take welfare and public benefits,” he said.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt posted on X that the countries affected would include Somalia, whose people Trump has attacked in heated terms after immigrants were involved in a funding scandal in Minnesota, as well as Russia and Iran.
A US official said that the other countries affected would include a number of countries with friendly relations with the United States, including Brazil, Egypt and Thailand.
Other countries to face the pause include Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, as well as Iraq and Yemen, the official said.
The State Department did not immediately release a full list of countries.
The freeze will begin on 21 January with no set time for it to end, the US official, who was not authorized to speak to the press, said on condition of anonymity.
Trump has made no secret of his desire to reduce immigration by people who are not of European descent. He has described Somalis as “garbage” who should “go back to where they came from” and instead said he was open to Scandinavians moving to the United States.
The State Department said Monday that it has revoked more than 100,000 visas since Trump’s return, a one-year record.
The Department of Homeland Security last month said that the Trump administration has deported more than 605,000 people, and that 2.5 million others left on their own.
The latest move does not affect tourist, business or other visas, including for soccer fans seeking to visit for this year’s World Cup, although the Trump administration has vowed to vet all applicants’ social media histories.
source: https://laotiantimes.com/2026/01/15/us-suspends-immigrant-visa-processing-for-75-countries-thailand-cambodia-on-the-list/
Laos-China Railway Enables Record-Breaking Journey from Singapore to Portugal
The world’s longest train journey now runs from Singapore to Portugal, covering nearly 19,000 kilometers across 13 countries and linking Southeast Asia to Western Europe entirely by rail.
The Laos-China Railway (LCR) is a key player in this achievement, linking Southeast Asia and China’s extensive rail network.
The Route in a Nutshell
The journey begins in Singapore and travels north through Malaysia and Thailand before entering Laos.
From Laos’ Vientiane, passengers board the LCR to Kunming, China, passing through the UNESCO World Heritage city of Luang Prabang.
The route then continues across China to Beijing, follows the Trans-Siberian Railway through Mongolia and Russia, to Moscow, and proceeds westward through Europe, passing through Belarus, Poland, Germany, France, and Spain, before reaching the final destination of Lisbon, Portugal.
Traveling back-to-back, the entire journey takes approximately 21 days, with the longest single leg being the seven-day, 7,622-kilometer Moscow-Beijing segment.
Laos-China Railway: The Crucial Connection
Inaugurated in December 2021, the 420-kilometer Laos-China Railway has transformed Laos from a “landlocked” to a “land-linked” nation. The railway has already carried over 62 million passengers on the Vientiane-Kunming route and more than 12 million passengers within Laos.
Most significantly, the LCR provides the critical overland connection between Southeast Asia and China’s extensive rail network, enabling seamless travel from Singapore all the way to Europe.
Without this railway linking Vientiane to Kunming, the Singapore-to-Portugal route would not be possible.
Currently, a 15-kilometer bus connection near Vientiane links the LCR with the Laos-Thailand Railway. However, construction of a new railway bridge across the Mekong River between Vientiane and Nong Khai will soon create a direct rail link, further enhancing connectivity as part of Laos’ transformation into a regional transportation hub under China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
Challenges and the Future
While this route represents a unique route in global rail connectivity, geopolitical tensions present challenges. Since 2022, the suspension of rail services has blocked direct train travel across Russia’s western borders, requiring travelers to make alternative arrangements.
source: https://laotiantimes.com/2026/01/12/laos-china-railway-enables-record-breaking-journey-from-singapore-to-portugal/