Laos welcomed nearly 2.6 million international tourists in the first half of 2026, up 9.9 percent from the same period last year, according to the latest figures from the Tourism Development Department under the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism.
Thailand remained the country’s biggest source of visitors, with 833,738 arrivals, accounting for 32.2 percent of the total. China followed with 26.1 percent, while Vietnam ranked third with 22.6 percent.
Together, the three neighboring countries brought more than 2 million visitors to Laos, making up about 81 percent of all international arrivals during the first six months of the year.
ASEAN continued to dominate as Laos’ largest tourism market, contributing nearly 1.47 million visitors. The Asia-Pacific region came next with 813,313 arrivals, driven largely by Chinese tourists, while Europe accounted for 222,099 visitors.
The latest figures show tourism has continued to gain momentum throughout the year. Laos welcomed 1.36 million visitors in the first quarter alone, a 7.9 percent increase from a year earlier. Although arrivals dipped briefly in February compared with the same month in 2025, numbers rebounded in March and kept climbing through June.
If the trend continues, Laos remains on track to meet its 2026 target of attracting between 5 million and 6 million international visitors.
The government is also looking beyond this year. Under its 2026–2030 tourism strategy, Laos aims to welcome 43 million visitors over five years and generate at least USD 13 billion in tourism revenue.
Building on a record 2025
The first-half growth extends a trend that saw Laos post record tourism numbers throughout 2025. The country welcomed 4,580,709 international visitors last year, an 11 percent increase over 2024 that comfortably exceeded the government’s target of 4.3 million.
Thailand, China, and Vietnam were again the top three source markets for the full year, with China’s arrivals rising 10 percent and Vietnam’s up 7 percent, while South Korea recorded a steep 22 percent decline, partly attributed to political instability and a major airline disaster in that market.
Growth accelerated further in the second half of 2025, following the rollout of updated Visit Laos Year visa policies that took effect in July 2024 and fueled a surge in Chinese arrivals.
By the first eight months of 2025 alone, Laos had already logged more than 3 million tourists, a 15 percent year-on-year increase.
A five-year push for 22 million visitors
The steady increase puts Laos on track to reach its 2026 target of attracting between 5 million and 6 million international visitors, with Chinese arrivals alone expected to reach roughly 2 million this year, partly driven by the 65th anniversary of Lao-China diplomatic relations and growing use of the Laos-China Railway.
Looking beyond this year, the government has set an ambitious tourism strategy for 2026–2030, aiming to welcome 43 million visitors over five years, comprising 21 million domestic and 22 million international travelers, and generate at least USD 13 billion in tourism revenue, according to Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Suansavanh Viyaket.
Of that revenue target, international tourists are projected to contribute at least USD 8 billion, with international visitors expected to stay an average of 10 days per trip.
To meet these goals, Lao authorities have said they will prioritize infrastructure upgrades, including continued development along the Laos-China Railway corridor, alongside improved service standards, workforce training, and expanded digital and multilingual tourism marketing.
