The visa exemption policy is expected to apply in the second half of the year to tourists traveling in groups organized by travel companies. In addition, the Lao government is also considering providing visa-related incentives to tourists from other target markets, including free multiple-entry visas and increasing the length of stay from 30 to 60 days.
To further facilitate the tourist experience, the Lao government is enhancing road infrastructure in transit areas and improving access to popular tourist attractions.
Chinese tourists can enter Laos through international border gates such as Wattay International Airport in the capital Vientiane, Boten International Border Gate in Champassak Province and Dansavanh International Border Gate in Savannakhet Province.
Laos' visa exemption for Chinese tourists is expected to help boost Laos' tourism industry.
Under the new policy, Chinese tourists can stay in Laos for up to 30 days without a visa. However, tourists must meet several conditions: have a Chinese passport valid for at least 6 months, have a return flight ticket or continuous train ticket out of Laos, have enough financial capacity to cover the cost of stay and living during their stay in Laos, and have no history of violating the law.
Laos' visa exemption for Chinese tourists is expected to help boost Laos' tourism industry, especially as the global tourism industry gradually recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.
With tourism being a top priority in the country's socio-economic growth, Laos has designated this year as the Lao Tourism Year. Under the slogan "Laos - Paradise of Culture, Nature and History", the program aims to promote tourism and attract more international tourists to visit the "Land of a Million Elephants".
Along with that, the Laos-China railway has also helped Chinese tourists to travel to Laos more conveniently at a lower cost than traveling by road and air. Accordingly, in one year since the start of cross-border tourist trains in April last year, the Laos-China railway has transported more than 172,000 cross-border passengers.
During the period of January - April 2024, Laos welcomed more than 1.5 million foreign tourists, of which Chinese tourists accounted for about 20% (at least 351,000 people).
