In 2024, Luang Prabang welcomed more than 2 million tourists, surpassing the initial goal of 900,000 visitors.
According to data provided to the Laotian Times by the Luang Prabang Department of Information, Culture, and Tourism, a total of 2,306,375 tourists visited the UNESCO Heritage Town last year, with 1,532,394 being foreign visitors.
The top 10 countries contributing to this success with the highest number of visitors were China, Thailand, South Korea, the United States, France, Japan, Germany, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom.
China led the way with a significant 438,355 tourists, followed by Thailand with 175,575, and South Korea with 151,189.
This growth was already evident in 2023, when Luang Prabang attracted over one million visitors, marking a 91.49 percent increase compared to 2022. This increase generated an estimated USD 560 million, with over 760,000 international tourists contributing to the city’s economy.
In 2023, Thailand was on the top of the list with 214,079 visitors. China and South Korea followed with 62,900 and 13,817 tourists respectively.
The rise in visitor numbers to Laos is attributed to the country’s increased exposure on several international travel websites as well as the success of the 2024 Visit Laos Year campaign. As part of this initiative, Laos granted special visa exemptions to more than 30 countries, including China, the United States, and eight European countries.
In October, Laos was ranked fourth on the list of the Top 30 Best Places to Visit in 2025 by the travel guidebook “Lonely Planet.” The top five destinations include Cameroon, Lithuania, Fiji, Laos, and Kazakhstan.