Bungalows line the scenic Nam Lik river in Meuangfeuang district, Vientiane province. - Vientiane Times/ANN
VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN): The government is anticipating the arrival of 400,000 to 800,000 foreign visitors this month and next, which will bring the total number of foreign visitors this year to 2.9 million or 3.3 million.
With the last three months of the year being the high season, an influx of visitors is anticipated, which will push the total for the year well above the figure of 1.68 million people who took trips in Laos last year.
According to statistics from the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, in the first nine months of this year more than 2.4 million foreign tourists spent time in Laos, an increase of 285 percent compared to the same period last year.
The figures indicate that the tourism industry is making a strong recovery and it is expected that by the end of this year the government’s goal on tourist numbers will be reached.
The surge in visitor numbers has been partly attributed to the popularity of the Laos-China railway and the expressway linking Vientiane and the tourist hotspot of Vangvieng, which have opened up previously hard to reach areas.
In the past, a trip from Vientiane to Luang Prabang, Oudomxay or Bokeo provinces took take many hours, but travel is now more convenient and journeys are much faster.
In addition, Lao Airlines is offering numerous direct flights to and from other countries in the region.
More tourist attractions are being built and opened up, such as at Phou Pha Marn hill in Khammuan province, which is on its way to becoming a top-flight visitor attraction, designed to make the most of the dramatic landscape.
Activities on offer at Phou Pha Marn include six ziplines, a tree canopy walk, a walk across a Spider Net, climbing over rocks to reach a viewpoint, and hiking.
Other popular places are the Nam Lik river in Meuangfeuang district, Vientiane province, where visitors can stay in a bungalow by the riverside, experience the local lifestyle, and enjoy the peaceful natural surroundings.
Next year, during Visit Laos Year 2024, the government hopes to attract at least 2.7 million foreign tourists, generating revenue of about US$401 million, while in 2025 tourist arrivals are forecast to reach 2.9 million and generate income of US$434 million. - Vientiane Times/ANN
