Thanks to the high-speed Laos-China railway connectivity, Laos has been seeing a steady stream of visitors from Thailand.
Since the second week of May and until the end of July, around 250,000 people have visited the country from Thailand. Most tourists visited Luang Prabang which also happens to be a UNESCO World Heritage site. And trips to the picturesque town were made infinitely easier with access to economical railway services which has drastically cut down travel time.
An influx of tourists has also resulted in a cash flow of an additional 800 million baht, according to government officials. And just this week, the Laos government announced that it is keen on attracting 900,000 foreign visitors in 2022, which is expected to generate more than 218 million U.S. dollars in revenue.
The increase in the number of international tourists has also positively impacted the supply of foreign currency, which would eventually make importing essential goods less expensive for the country.
In addition to foreigners visiting the country, 756,338 domestic tourists have also traveled locally generating over 85.42 million U.S. dollars for the economy.
https://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/ແຂວງວຽງຈັນ.ບອນລູນ.jpeg10231024Sylivanla Vongphachanhhttps://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Lao-Simply-Beautiful-.webpSylivanla Vongphachanh2022-09-16 14:18:002022-09-12 14:21:00250,000 Thai Tourists Visited Laos Between May and July
Tmark Resort in Vang Vieng became the first resort in Vang Vieng to receive a five-star rating from the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism on August 5.
Tmark resort Vang Vieng is situated in a quiet and scenic location near downtown Vang Vieng along the Nam Song River. Its position fully showcases the iconic green mountains across the river, displaying the sublime beauty of Vang Vieng.
The resort features a 24-hour dining restaurant, a spacious swimming pool, a pool bar, a fitness center, a spa, a meeting room, and access to free wi-fi connection throughout the resort.
The five-star resort offers a range of services to welcome international guests such as five spoken languages, including English, Tagalog (Filipino), Korean and Thai.
The award ceremony was held under the authority of Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, Ms. Syphonepai Sitthixay, and the Mayor of Vang Vieng, Mr. Bounchanh Malavong, as well as the shareholders, Mr. Kim Ki Chang and Mr. Chong Nakhonesak as well as Mr. Bo Ackalith Xayyasone.
Ms. Syphonepai Sitthixay, Deputy Director General of Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, congratulated Tmark Resort Vang Vieng on receiving the designation as a five-star hotel.
The resort, the Deputy Director General said, is certified by Safe and Clean standard (LaoSafe), ensuring its hygienic safety.
On this occasion, Mr. Francis Fernandes, General Director of Tmark Resort Vang Vieng, thanked the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism and provincial officials for their attendance at the awarding of the first five-star hotel in Vang Vieng.
The resort’s new five-star designation is a hopeful sign for Lao tourism, which is still working to bounce back following the country’s re-opening.
Laos has seen just over 42,000 arrivals in the first six months of this year, but experts predict the numbers to increase by a large margin by the end of the year.
The sluggish start to tourism was caused by a delayed reopening, with the country missing the mark as those in the northern hemisphere planned their summer holidays in advance.
Vientiane Times reports that a total of 42,197 foreign nationals entered Laos on tourist visas in the first six months of this year, with the highest numbers arriving in May and June after entry restrictions were lifted.
The average stay for these arrivals was 7.9 days, with spending averaging around USD 83 per person, according to the Tourism Development Department of the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism.
This has generated revenue for the government at approximately USD 4.55 million.
Domestic tourism also increased, with more than 600,000 Lao people traveling within the country and spending an average of USD 45 per person over 2.5 days.
Most of the international arrivals came from Thailand, Vietnam, and a spattering of other ASEAN nations.
Surprisingly, only 144 tourists entered Laos from South Korea in the first six months of 2022, while Chinese visitors amounted to only 1,165 due to restrictions on outbound travel as China pursues its zero-Covid policy.
“In July, we saw Thai tourists arriving in unprecedented droves, spurred by proximity, the novelty of a high-speed railway, a strong Thai baht, and a rapid succession of long holiday weekends,” said Jason Rolan, a tourism consultant based in Laos.
And while Thai train tourists may not be a long-term or sustainable solution, it could shore up the industry until high season begins.
“There is another long Thai public holiday this week – the last for a few months. The furor for the train will likely die down eventually, and this future decline will only be hastened by problems in securing tickets for the railway,” says Jason.
And with the tourism high season fast approaching, the railway company should be full steam ahead in preparation for a renewed influx of trainspotters, this time from all over the world.
https://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Thai-tourists-participate-in-a-morning-almsgiving-ceremony-in-Luang-Prabang-Photo-Ven.-Bounhao-Panyasouk-696x364-1.jpg364696Sylivanla Vongphachanhhttps://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Lao-Simply-Beautiful-.webpSylivanla Vongphachanh2022-09-12 14:09:592022-09-12 14:10:05Tourism Sees Slow Start in Laos but Jump in July May Tip the Scales
250,000 Thai Tourists Visited Laos Between May and July
Thanks to the high-speed Laos-China railway connectivity, Laos has been seeing a steady stream of visitors from Thailand.
Since the second week of May and until the end of July, around 250,000 people have visited the country from Thailand. Most tourists visited Luang Prabang which also happens to be a UNESCO World Heritage site. And trips to the picturesque town were made infinitely easier with access to economical railway services which has drastically cut down travel time.
An influx of tourists has also resulted in a cash flow of an additional 800 million baht, according to government officials. And just this week, the Laos government announced that it is keen on attracting 900,000 foreign visitors in 2022, which is expected to generate more than 218 million U.S. dollars in revenue.
The increase in the number of international tourists has also positively impacted the supply of foreign currency, which would eventually make importing essential goods less expensive for the country.
In addition to foreigners visiting the country, 756,338 domestic tourists have also traveled locally generating over 85.42 million U.S. dollars for the economy.
Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2022/09/02/thai-tourists-visiting-laos/
Tmark Resort Vang Vieng Awarded Five Stars
Tmark Resort in Vang Vieng became the first resort in Vang Vieng to receive a five-star rating from the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism on August 5.
Tmark resort Vang Vieng is situated in a quiet and scenic location near downtown Vang Vieng along the Nam Song River. Its position fully showcases the iconic green mountains across the river, displaying the sublime beauty of Vang Vieng.
The resort features a 24-hour dining restaurant, a spacious swimming pool, a pool bar, a fitness center, a spa, a meeting room, and access to free wi-fi connection throughout the resort.
The five-star resort offers a range of services to welcome international guests such as five spoken languages, including English, Tagalog (Filipino), Korean and Thai.
The award ceremony was held under the authority of Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, Ms. Syphonepai Sitthixay, and the Mayor of Vang Vieng, Mr. Bounchanh Malavong, as well as the shareholders, Mr. Kim Ki Chang and Mr. Chong Nakhonesak as well as Mr. Bo Ackalith Xayyasone.
Ms. Syphonepai Sitthixay, Deputy Director General of Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, congratulated Tmark Resort Vang Vieng on receiving the designation as a five-star hotel.
The resort, the Deputy Director General said, is certified by Safe and Clean standard (LaoSafe), ensuring its hygienic safety.
On this occasion, Mr. Francis Fernandes, General Director of Tmark Resort Vang Vieng, thanked the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism and provincial officials for their attendance at the awarding of the first five-star hotel in Vang Vieng.
The resort’s new five-star designation is a hopeful sign for Lao tourism, which is still working to bounce back following the country’s re-opening.
Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2022/08/09/tmark-resort-vang-vieng-awarded-five-stars/
Tourism Sees Slow Start in Laos but Jump in July May Tip the Scales
Laos has seen just over 42,000 arrivals in the first six months of this year, but experts predict the numbers to increase by a large margin by the end of the year.
The sluggish start to tourism was caused by a delayed reopening, with the country missing the mark as those in the northern hemisphere planned their summer holidays in advance.
Vientiane Times reports that a total of 42,197 foreign nationals entered Laos on tourist visas in the first six months of this year, with the highest numbers arriving in May and June after entry restrictions were lifted.
The average stay for these arrivals was 7.9 days, with spending averaging around USD 83 per person, according to the Tourism Development Department of the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism.
This has generated revenue for the government at approximately USD 4.55 million.
Domestic tourism also increased, with more than 600,000 Lao people traveling within the country and spending an average of USD 45 per person over 2.5 days.
Most of the international arrivals came from Thailand, Vietnam, and a spattering of other ASEAN nations.
Surprisingly, only 144 tourists entered Laos from South Korea in the first six months of 2022, while Chinese visitors amounted to only 1,165 due to restrictions on outbound travel as China pursues its zero-Covid policy.
But tourism began to pick up in July, however, with experts predicting a massive shift in arrival numbers after a surge in interest from neighboring Thailand.
“In July, we saw Thai tourists arriving in unprecedented droves, spurred by proximity, the novelty of a high-speed railway, a strong Thai baht, and a rapid succession of long holiday weekends,” said Jason Rolan, a tourism consultant based in Laos.
And while Thai train tourists may not be a long-term or sustainable solution, it could shore up the industry until high season begins.
“There is another long Thai public holiday this week – the last for a few months. The furor for the train will likely die down eventually, and this future decline will only be hastened by problems in securing tickets for the railway,” says Jason.
The Laos-China Railway Company recently admitted to poor management and a lack of operational readiness, promising to quickly improve its services and develop an online ticket reservation system.
And with the tourism high season fast approaching, the railway company should be full steam ahead in preparation for a renewed influx of trainspotters, this time from all over the world.
Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2022/08/09/tourism-sees-slow-start-in-laos-but-jump-in-july-may-tip-the-scales/