Laos sees big jump in visitors in first half 2022

VIENTIANE: Laos has seen a surge in the number of visitors in the first six month of 2022, following the lifting of travel restrictions as the Covid-19 pandemic subsides.

Records showed that 42,197 foreign nationals entered Laos on tourist visas in the first six months of this year.

Most arrived in May and June, when 35,983 foreign tourists came in after the government waived all entry formalities, local daily Vientiane Times reported on Tuesday.

During the first five months of 2022, 36,529 people visited Laos, staying for an average of 7.9 days and spending an average of 1.245 million kip (US$83 or RM370) per person per day, generating revenue of more than Us$4.55mil (Rm20.26mil).

The number of domestic tourists in the first five months of 2022 was recorded at 626,825, up 2.8% compared to the same period last year.

With an average stay of 2.5 days per person, the average spent was 675,000 kip (US$45 or RM200) per person per day.

Most tourists enter Laos from the Lao-thai Friendship Bridge in Lao capital Vientiane, Wattay International Airport and Luang Prabang International Airport.

From January to April, when tourists were first allowed into Laos after the country’s borders reopened, 546 people booked holidays with tour companies, according to the report.

An increasing number of tourists are arriving from Asean countries. In one month from May to June, 33,435 tourists came to Laos, with 18,621 from Thailand and 14,447 from Vietnam.

In other figures recorded over the first five months of this year, 1,902 people from the Asia-pacific region visited Laos, 467 from Europe, 512 from the United States and 23 from Africa and the Middle East.