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This visa exemption policy is expected to apply for the last six months of the year to tourists traveling in groups organized by travel companies. In addition, the Lao government is also considering offering visa-related incentives for tourists from other target markets, including multiple-entry visas free of charge and an increase in the length of stay from 30 to 60 days.
To further enhance the tourist experience, the Lao government is strengthening road infrastructure in transit areas and improving access to popular tourist attractions.
Chinese tourists can enter Laos through international border crossings such as Wattay International Airport in Vientiane, Boten International Border Gate in Champassak Province, and Dansavanh International Border Gate in Savannakhet Province.
Laos' visa waiver for Chinese tourists is expected to help boost the country's 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: possess a valid Chinese passport with at least six months remaining validity, have a return air ticket or train ticket out of Laos, have sufficient financial means to cover accommodation and living expenses during their stay, and have no prior criminal record.
Laos' visa waiver for Chinese tourists is expected to boost its tourism industry, especially as the global tourism sector gradually recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.
With tourism being a top priority in the country's socio-economic growth, Laos has chosen this year as the Year of Tourism. Under the slogan "Laos - A 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."
Furthermore, the Laos-China railway has made it easier and more affordable for Chinese tourists to travel to Laos compared to traveling by road or air. Accordingly, in the year since the start of cross-border tourist train services last April, the Laos-China railway has transported over 172,000 passengers across the border.
Between January and April 2024, Laos welcomed over 1.5 million foreign tourists, with Chinese tourists accounting for approximately 20% (at least 351,000 people).
