The revenue generated by foreign tourists amounted to more than US$100 million. - VT
VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/Asia News Network): Tourists from Thailand, China and the Republic of Korea topped the list of visitors to Laos in the first nine months of this year.
Statistics compiled by the Tourism Marketing Department of the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism showed that 364,515 visitors came from Thailand, 18,902 from China, 9,885 from Korea, 6,695 from the USA, and 6,379 from Cambodia.
The department recorded a total of 1,701,806 tourists between January and September, of which 644,756 were foreign nationals and 1,037,050 were Lao holidaymakers.
The number of Lao nationals making trips around the country increased by 39 percent compared to the first nine months of 2021.
Income generated by domestic tourists was recorded at more than US$117 million, while revenue generated by foreign tourists amounted to more than US$100 million.
Of the 644,756 foreign tourists, 578,876 came from other Asean countries, accounting for 89 percent of the total, while 39,259 people, equal to 6 percent, came from the Asia-Pacific region.
Although the Chinese government is continuing to impose travel restrictions because of the Covid-19 virus, 18,902 Chinese nationals visited Laos from January to September this year.
Most visitors from China arrive at Wattay International Airport, pass through the Golden Triangle border crossing, or enter across the Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge in Vientiane.
The Tourism Marketing Department also recorded 14,194 tourists from European countries, accounting for 2 percent; 9,812 visitors from the USA, accounting for 1.52 percent; and 2,615 from Africa and the Middle East, accounting for 0.41 percent.
In the last three months of this year, the number of tourists is expected to increase by 300,000 people.
The government and local businesses have joined forces to promote tourism and access a broader audience through international exhibitions, Asean tourism fairs, and the development of new tourism products.
Statistics in relation to domestic tourists are compiled by the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, individual provinces and tourism-related businesses, as well as from personal interaction.
Figures relating to international tourists are sourced from the Department of Immigration and observations at international airports, bridge crossings, tourist sites, and bus stations.
