November 14, 2023
VIENTIANE – Visit Laos Year 2024 set to formally kick off later this month
The official opening of the tourism promotion campaign Visit Laos Year 2024 will take place in Vientiane on November 23 at the That Luang stupa esplanade.
The theme for the year-long event is “A Paradise of Lao Culture, Nature and History”, with the elephant chosen as the mascot to represent Laos’ historical association with the majestic animal.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Mrs Suanesavanh Vignaket said the ministry, together with the Departments of Information, Culture and Tourism in Vientiane and the provinces, has identified 79 events that will be advertised to tourists.
Fourteen of these events take place nationwide and 65 are provincial events, and are all included in the tourism calendar.
“This information will enable tourists to make travel plans in accordance with their preferences. Apart from this, the managers of hotels, tourist attractions, restaurants, Lao Airlines, and other tourism-related businesses will work together to offer tourism packages,” the Minister said.
“All of this is aimed at ensuring that tourism programmes are well harmonised, and linked from the central to grassroots levels, from province to province, and between provinces and districts, at an affordable price,” she added.
The government hopes to attract at least 2.7 million foreign tourists next year, generating revenue of about US$401 million, while in 2025 tourist arrivals are forecast to reach 2.9 million and generate income of US$434 million.
“To ensure that the 2024 tourism action plan is fulfilled in accordance with the set objectives, the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism will coordinate with the relevant sectors at both the central and grassroots levels to implement national and local tourism activities in line with the set schedule and safety measures,” Mrs Suanesavanh said.
“We are improving tourist facilities and diversifying tourism products to meet the needs of the regional and global tourism markets, while also improving the quality of services, aiming to welcome tourists with warmth, smiles and good hospitality. Visit Laos Year 2024 will be advertised in the Lao and international media and at international tourism exhibitions,” she added.
The government has organised previous promotional campaigns to attract tourists, including two Visit Laos Years, Visit Laos-China Year, and Lao Thiao Laos, which drew many visitors.
During Visit Laos Year 2018, visitor arrivals topped 4.1 million, up 8.2 percent compared to 2017.
During Visit Laos-China Year 2019, Laos welcomed 4.58 million foreign visitors, representing an increase of 9 percent over 2018.
Laos has hosted three previous Visit Laos Years, first in 1999-2000, then in 2012, and again in 2018. Next year will be the fourth time we are rolling out a countrywide tourism promotion campaign.