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.
Tourism statistics dashboard for Laos Q1 2026.
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.
Tourism statistics dashboard for Laos Q1 2026 by region.
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.
https://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Patuxay-Vientiane-Capital-Laos.jpg6271200Soutsada Xaphouvonghttps://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Lao-Simply-Beautiful-.webpSoutsada Xaphouvong2026-05-04 10:44:012026-05-05 10:47:59Laos Draws 1.36 Million Tourists in First Three Months of 2026, Up 8 Percent
Lao Foreign Minister Thongsavanh Phomvihane held five bilateral meetings at the 25th ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting in Brunei from 27 to 28 April. The talks aimed to deepen ties with European partners ahead of Laos’ graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status by 2029.
The highlight of the day was the meeting with Lithuania, where Thongsavanh and Kestutis Budrys signed a new bilateral cooperation agreement establishing a formal consultation mechanism between both foreign ministries. The deal covers trade, investment, tourism, clean energy, digital transformation, and UXO clearance.
Budrys congratulated Thongsavanh on his appointment, and both sides marked over 30 years of relations since September 1994.
In a special meeting with Portugal, Thongsavanh and Ana Isabel Xavier, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Portugal, celebrated three decades of diplomatic relations established in 1995 and agreed to strengthen cooperation in trade, education, clean energy, and UXO clearance.
Lao Foreign Minister also invited Portugal to the Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which Vientiane will host later this year.
Turning to Austria, Laos’ one of the oldest European partners with ties dating to 1967. Two countries reaffirmed their relationship and set the 60th anniversary in 2027 as a milestone for deeper cooperation across several sectors.
In talks with Cyprus, both sides reviewed their relationship since 2000 and identified new opportunities for engagement. Laos briefed Cyprus on its national development priorities and LDC transition plans.
Rounding out the day, Laos and Slovakia reaffirmed friendly ties and agreed to expand cooperation in trade, investment, education, and development assistance, strengthening Laos’ broader engagement with Central European partners, the fifth and final meeting of the day.
Across all five meetings, Laos consistently framed its LDC graduation as an opportunity to attract European development support and build new economic partnerships ahead of 2029.
https://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/LT-Website-Size-59.png6271200Soutsada Xaphouvonghttps://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Lao-Simply-Beautiful-.webpSoutsada Xaphouvong2026-05-02 10:16:072026-05-04 10:34:49Laos Expands European Ties Through ASEAN-EU Meeting
Laos and China marked 65 years of diplomatic relations this week, with both sides highlighting deepening economic ties, including more than USD 18 billion in Chinese investment in Laos to date.
Bilateral trade reached nearly USD 9.8 billion in 2025, up 19.3 percent from a year earlier.
Officials and diplomats from both countries presented the figures in a ceremony in Vientiane on 23 April.
Chinese Ambassador to Laos Fang Hong and Lao Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongsavanh Phomvihane described the partnership as increasingly important amid global uncertainty, calling it a stable, long-term relationship with growing strategic value.
According to the data. tourism has also rebounded. More than one million Chinese visitors traveled to Laos in 2025, a 24.32 percent increase, reinforcing China’s position as a key tourism market.
The Laos-China Railway remains a central part of that growth. Since its launch in December 2021, it has carried over 11 million passengers and nearly 17 million tonnes of goods, boosting cross-border trade and travel.
Chinese Language Demand Rises
Along with the strong economic ties, demand for Chinese language skills continues to grow, particularly in transport and logistics.
On 21 April, the National University of Laos signed a cooperation agreement on 21 April, with a private logistics company to expand Chinese language training and create new opportunities for students and teachers.
Institutions report rising enrolment in Chinese courses since the launch of the Laos-China Railway. More than 400 applicants have applied for the university’s master’s program in Chinese language teaching since it began in 2021.
Youth and Cultural Exchanges
People-to-people exchanges have also become part of the anniversary celebrations.
On 24 April, students and youth groups from Laos and China’s Yunnan Province joined a reading event at the National University of Laos, aimed at strengthening educational and cultural ties.
Organizers said the “Classmate” theme reflects a relationship that has grown over decades, not only through major infrastructure and trade projects, but also through everyday interactions between people.
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/
Laos Expands European Ties Through ASEAN-EU Meeting
Lao Foreign Minister Thongsavanh Phomvihane held five bilateral meetings at the 25th ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting in Brunei from 27 to 28 April. The talks aimed to deepen ties with European partners ahead of Laos’ graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status by 2029.
The highlight of the day was the meeting with Lithuania, where Thongsavanh and Kestutis Budrys signed a new bilateral cooperation agreement establishing a formal consultation mechanism between both foreign ministries. The deal covers trade, investment, tourism, clean energy, digital transformation, and UXO clearance.
Budrys congratulated Thongsavanh on his appointment, and both sides marked over 30 years of relations since September 1994.
In a special meeting with Portugal, Thongsavanh and Ana Isabel Xavier, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Portugal, celebrated three decades of diplomatic relations established in 1995 and agreed to strengthen cooperation in trade, education, clean energy, and UXO clearance.
Lao Foreign Minister also invited Portugal to the Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which Vientiane will host later this year.
Turning to Austria, Laos’ one of the oldest European partners with ties dating to 1967. Two countries reaffirmed their relationship and set the 60th anniversary in 2027 as a milestone for deeper cooperation across several sectors.
In talks with Cyprus, both sides reviewed their relationship since 2000 and identified new opportunities for engagement. Laos briefed Cyprus on its national development priorities and LDC transition plans.
Rounding out the day, Laos and Slovakia reaffirmed friendly ties and agreed to expand cooperation in trade, investment, education, and development assistance, strengthening Laos’ broader engagement with Central European partners, the fifth and final meeting of the day.
Across all five meetings, Laos consistently framed its LDC graduation as an opportunity to attract European development support and build new economic partnerships ahead of 2029.
source: https://laotiantimes.com/2026/04/30/laos-expands-european-ties-through-asean-eu-meeting/
Laos-China Trade Nears USD 10 Billion as Ties Deepen
Laos and China marked 65 years of diplomatic relations this week, with both sides highlighting deepening economic ties, including more than USD 18 billion in Chinese investment in Laos to date.
Bilateral trade reached nearly USD 9.8 billion in 2025, up 19.3 percent from a year earlier.
Officials and diplomats from both countries presented the figures in a ceremony in Vientiane on 23 April.
Chinese Ambassador to Laos Fang Hong and Lao Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongsavanh Phomvihane described the partnership as increasingly important amid global uncertainty, calling it a stable, long-term relationship with growing strategic value.
According to the data. tourism has also rebounded. More than one million Chinese visitors traveled to Laos in 2025, a 24.32 percent increase, reinforcing China’s position as a key tourism market.
The Laos-China Railway remains a central part of that growth. Since its launch in December 2021, it has carried over 11 million passengers and nearly 17 million tonnes of goods, boosting cross-border trade and travel.
Chinese Language Demand Rises
Along with the strong economic ties, demand for Chinese language skills continues to grow, particularly in transport and logistics.
On 21 April, the National University of Laos signed a cooperation agreement on 21 April, with a private logistics company to expand Chinese language training and create new opportunities for students and teachers.
Institutions report rising enrolment in Chinese courses since the launch of the Laos-China Railway. More than 400 applicants have applied for the university’s master’s program in Chinese language teaching since it began in 2021.
Youth and Cultural Exchanges
People-to-people exchanges have also become part of the anniversary celebrations.
On 24 April, students and youth groups from Laos and China’s Yunnan Province joined a reading event at the National University of Laos, aimed at strengthening educational and cultural ties.
Organizers said the “Classmate” theme reflects a relationship that has grown over decades, not only through major infrastructure and trade projects, but also through everyday interactions between people.
source: https://laotiantimes.com/2026/04/27/laos-china-trade-nears-usd-10-billion-as-ties-deepen/