Laos has seen a significant increase in the number of visitors in the first six months of 2023, with more than 1.6 million foreign tourists visiting the country. The most recent data revealed by the Tourism Marketing Department of the Lao Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism in July, showed that the largest number of visitors came from Thailand with 668,595, followed by 398,937 from Vietnam and 317,604 from China. The number of visitors has increased hugely compared to the first six months of 2022, when only 42,197 foreign nationals entered Laos on tourist visas. Since the Lao government reopened the country to foreign travelers and the China-Laos Railway came into service, people from other countries have flocked to Laos.—APP
