Laos works to boost tourism as fuel for economic growth

VIENTIANE, July 31 (Xinhua) -- Laos is enhancing its tourism sector by improving standards, upgrading infrastructure, and elevating service quality and visitor experiences, recognizing tourism as a vital driver of economic growth.

Initiatives include expanding media promotion, promoting digital payments, and modernizing border checkpoints to attract more visitors and boost economic growth.

The Lao government also plans to review visa policies and strengthen regional cooperation. These measures aim to position the Southeast Asian country as a more accessible, competitive, and sustainable tourism destination.

Maikham, a hotel staff member in northern Laos' Luang Prabang province, emphasized the importance of continuously improving service standards to meet visitor satisfaction and attract tourists for repeat visits.

Maikham said that the growing number of visitors not only boosts economic growth but also inspires local communities to enhance their services, maintain cleaner environments, and create more cultural experiences for tourists.

She also expressed strong support for national efforts to attract more tourists and stressed the importance of community involvement in shaping a brighter future for the country's tourism sector.

Laos is continuing its national tour guide training program to build a skilled and sufficient workforce that meets the growing demands of the tourism sector.

Kanchana, a resident of Vientiane province, stressed enhancing the service mindset of the Lao people to welcome diverse tourists.

She noted that local residents should be equipped with basic tourism knowledge to better assist visitors.

Chanhphieng, a vendor in Luang Prabang, highlighted the need to offer more creative and diverse food, drinks, services, and activities to keep tourists engaged and encourage them to return.

In an effort to attract more visitors, the Lao Ministry of Culture and Tourism is preparing for the second Visit Laos-China Year, with a focus on strengthening tourism promotion and attracting more Chinese tourists. In 2024, Laos welcomed 1,048,035 Chinese visitors, and in the first half of 2025, 602,103 Chinese tourists were recorded, indicating continued growth.

Laos aims to attract 4.3 million international tourists in 2025, with expectations to generate over 1 billion U.S. dollars in revenue.■