VIENTIANE, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Authorities in northern Laos' Luang Prabang province are urging the government to consider extending the free visitor visa policy for Chinese tour groups, following its success in attracting a notable increase in the number of visitors in 2024.
In addition to extending the visa waiver to Chinese tourists, authorities are calling for similar measures for nationals of other countries that are not currently benefiting from the scheme, in order to further boost tourism, Lao National Radio reported on Wednesday.
Authorities plan to allocate more local funds for tourism and improve regulations for companies serving Chinese tourists to ensure consistency. They also aim to enhance the tourist experience by upgrading infrastructure at key sites, including better roads, services, and transportation options.
In 2024, Luang Prabang welcomed over 2.3 million tourists, generating more than 1.2 billion U.S. dollars in revenue.
Authorities in northern Laos' Luang Prabang province hope to attract at least 2.3 million visitors in 2025, targeting more than 1.2 billion dollars in revenue.
The province expects to attract over 520,000 domestic visitors and over 1.7 million foreign tourists. ■
