LAOS CLAWS BACK TOURIST ARRIVALS

Laos

Laos got its tourist arrivals back on track in 2019 reporting a headcount of 4.58 million, up 9% after a below target showing in 2018.

Reported initially by the Vientiane Times, the data was released earlier this week by the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism’s director-general of the tourism marketing department, Sounh Manivong.

He is expected to release full details of an annual report during a press briefing scheduled for the ASEAN Tourism Forum in Brunei later this month.

He told the Vientiane Times that a 27% boost in tourist arrivals from China that crept past the 1 million total for the first time ensured Laos reversed a negative trend apparent since 2015.

In 2018, Laos welcomed 4,186,432 visits up 8.2%, but the performance was off-target despite a Visit Laos Year promotion. A banner year for tourism, 2015 recorded the strongest performance clocking up 4,684,429 visits.

Despite gains in the China market, Thailand remains the top source market increasing 6%, while Vietnamese visitors now a major driver of tourism to the country increased by 11%.

Other notable markets included the US and the UK both improving by 22%, the French market up 11% and Germany 13%.

Read the full article at TTR Weekly: https://www.ttrweekly.com/site/2020/01/laos-claws-back-tourist-arrivals/

Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office
c/o 3rd Floor, Department of Tourism, Ministry of Tourism and Sports, 154 Rama 1 Road, National Stadium, Wangmai, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Web: www.mekongtourism.org
Tel: +66 2038 5071-1
Mobile: +66 8555 44234, +66 8098 95853