Laos in Top 20 Fastest Growing Tourism Destinations

Laos has been included in a list of the world’s fastest-growing tourism destinations with one of the highest increases in visitor numbers year-on-year.

According to statistics compiled by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), international tourist arrivals grew by 4 percent in 2019.

Not surprisingly, France and Spain topped the list of the most popular countries internationally, but the UNWTO reports the Middle East (+8 percent) was the fastest-growing region for tourism, with Asia and the Pacific following close behind, up by 5 percent.

The Americas saw the least growth in tourism, down 2 percent, with the US down 1.3 percent.

According to Britain’s Independent online news website, the top twenty fastest growing tourist destinations in the world are:

Laos one of World's Fastest Growing Tourism Destinations
Laos is one of World’s Fastest Growing Tourism Destinations

Myanmar topped the list of fastest-growing tourism destinations, while Vietnam took 7th place and the Philipines 8th position.

Laos has taken 16th place in the list of top twenty fastest-growing tourism destinations in the world.

In 2020, the Lao government expects to attract around 4.7 million international visitors and raise more than USD 900 million in revenue.

More than 756,900 Chinese visitors came to Laos in 2019, an increase of about 26 percent over the same period in 2018, with the Vist Laos-China Year being hailed as a success by authorities.

Vientiane Times reported that the department of Tourism Marketing under the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism, is working on a campaign to encourage Lao people to travel within the country, as part of the national socio-economic development plan for 2020.

Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2020/02/07/laos-in-top-20-fastest-growing-tourism-destinations/

Laos Ranked 3rd in Wanderlust Travel Awards 2020

Laotian Times

Laos has taken third place in the Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards 2020 by British travel magazine Wanderlust that covers adventure, cultural and special interest travel.
Each year in October and November the magazine asks its readers to rate their travels of the past year. The awards reach an audience of around half a million responsive and curious travelers and have been established for over 15 years, according to the magazine.

Laos scored 96.25 percent of satisfaction rates, winning the bronze medal in the awards.

“Lovely Laos rounds out the top three. Probably because it sums up laid-back South-East Asia just right,” the magazine said.

“Laos is smiley, scenic, good value and offers delicious cuisine, with a pleasing amount of characterful hotels and modern comforts. Not so much that it’s lost its charm and soul, though. Long may that last.”

Wanderlust magazine

Namibia topped the awards with 96.47 percent of satisfaction rates, followed by Peru with 96.33 percent.

Elsewhere in Asia, Japan came 5th with 95.63 percent, Vietnam in 9th with 94.49 percent and India in 10th with 93.33 percent.

In December last year, Laos’s Luang Prabang ranked 11th in a list of top 20 places to travelin 2020, published by Architectural Digest. In the same month, Laos’s Kuang Si Falls in Lung Prabang ranked 26th in the list of 50 most popular destinations for Japanese tourists in 2019 compiled by TripAdvisor Japan, marking the first time for a tourist site in Laos to make the list.

Separately, in October last year, Booking.com Japan named Vientiane as the best city for walking tours in Southeast Asia where tourists could explore the city on foot day and night.

At that time, the website said tourists could walk down streets lined with French colonial-style buildings and visit historic sites and monuments such as Pha That Luang.

Source: The Laotian Times

Stellar new attraction on The Loop in Khammouane Province

December 2019 saw the grand opening of TheRockViewpoint, granting access to one of Laos’ most uncharted natural wonders.

The Phou Hin Boun National Protected area is one of the largest limestone forests in all Asia, home of some endemic wildlife and breath-taking views. At the location of the previous very modest viewing platform known as the Limestone Forest Lookout, you can now gaze in awe from the sweeping lookout deck, or face your fear and fly between the towering limestone mountains via ziplines, traverse deep gullies via a spider- net- like webs, and climb via ferratas as you delve deeper into this previously inaccessible protected area.

With outstanding coffee and high quality food on offer before and after, what’s not to love about Green Discovery’s latest and greatest venture?

  • Copyright Stan Fradelizi
  • Copyright Stan Fradelizi
  • Copyright Stan Fradelizi

New museum and website for Xieng Khouang

With its colourful museum opened in 2018 and now the corresponding website launched in late 2019, the Xieng Khouang Provincial Museum aims to promote appreciation and understanding about the history and culture of Xieng Khouang. Four short films highlight these stories, and the museum shop celebrates the artistry and craftsmanship of the people of the region.

Get your Lao Visa Online

About Lao eVisa

The website www.laoevisa.gov.la is an official online platform for foreigners to apply for Lao visa online prior to arriving in the country.

On 9th July 2019, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Lao PDR, together with its designated partners have officially launched Lao eVisa service at Wattay International Airport. The launching ceremony took place in the presence of Lao Deputy Prime Minister, H.E Sonexay SIPHANDONE, Lao Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E Saleumxay KOMMASITH, Diplomatic Corps and representatives of international organizations based in Vientiane Capital.

In the beginning, the eVisa service is opening for 8 international ports namely: Wattay International Airport (Vientiane Capital), Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge I (Vientiane Capital), Luang Prabang International Airport (Luang Prabang Province), Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge II (Savannakhet Province), Pakse International Airport (Champasack Province), Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge IV (Bokeo Province), Boten International Checkpoint (Luang Namtha Province) and Boten Railway Station (Luang Namtha Province). The system will continue to expand to other international ports in the near future.

New Video of Laos Loop

Showcasing the Charms of Central Laos

“With its rugged, intrepid travel, and stylish pockets of comfort… central Laos makes for a great place to combine your inner Indiana Jones with a Bloody Mary.”

Lonely Planet