Monday, August 26, 2024 Laos boosts tourism by offering visa-free entry to nine nations, including Spain, Sweden, and China, making travel easier for global visitors. In July, Laos introduced visa exemptions to enhance its tourism industry, allowing citizens of Austria, Belgium, Denmark, China, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Finland, and Greece to enter the country visa-free for up to 15 days. Additionally, these visitors can apply for a multiple-entry visa, extending their stay from 30 to 60 days.
Thai nationals with a “Border Pass” or “Temporary Border Pass”—documents used in place of a passport or ID under bilateral agreements—now enjoy an extended stay of up to ten days, compared to the previous limit of three days. Tourism played a significant role in Laos’ economy, contributing 12 percent to its GDP before the pandemic. Since reopening its borders to international tourists in April 2022, Laos has seen a gradual and steady recovery in the tourism sector.
This resurgence is supported by the Lao-China Railway, which connects Kunming, China, to Vientiane, Laos, offering new passenger routes that facilitate easier travel. The government aims to welcome at least 4.6 million foreign visitors in 2024, with over 1 million tourists recorded in the first quarter alone.
The Lao-China Railway, which commenced operations in December 2021, has significantly bolstered Laos’ tourism sector. Spanning 414 kilometers, this railway links the capital city, Vientiane, to Boten on the .