Luang Prabang records more than 2.3 million tourists in 2024

More than 2.3 million Lao and foreign tourists spent time in Luang Prabang province this year, an increase of 1.2 million compared to last year.
This tourism surge has helped generate over US$1.2 billion in revenue, according to the Luang Prabang Provincial Information, Culture and Tourism Department.

Luang Prabang National Museum.

Statistics show that 1,551,334 visitors were foreign nationals, up from 786,738 in 2023.
Of these, 459,297 visitors came from China, 175,575 from Thailand, 151,189 from the Republic of Korea, 113,164 from the USA, 90,499 from France, 80,885 from Japan, 59,607 from Germany, 51,325 from Canada, 43,560 from Australia, and 4,1254 from the United Kingdom.
Tourism has boomed under the Visit Laos Year 2024 programme. Provincial authorities have improved tourism facilities and the government’s decision to offer visa-free entry to Chinese nationals has significantly boosted visitor numbers.
Travel to Luang Prabang is now much easier thanks to the Laos-China Railway, which is the most popular route among tourists, according to the Luang Prabang Provincial Information, Culture and Tourism Department.
Luang Prabang has also been hailed in foreign newspapers and magazines, with the Travel and Tour World (TTW) website recently naming the town as one of the top 10 places to visit in 2025.
In another accolade, Luang Prabang was ranked first among the best places to visit in Asia in 2025 out of 22 locations selected by Lonely Planet.
Luang Prabang also won an award in a category titled 2024 Green Destinations Top 100 Stories, in recognition of its efforts to ensure responsible tourism and maintain its distinctive appeal.
In 2023, Luang Prabang was also recommended by the American magazine “Time” as one of the 50 greatest places to visit.
Luang Prabang is one of the most well-known towns in Laos and is a top tourist draw because of its riverside location, old temples, quaint streets and alleyways, colourful festivals, and scenic beauty.
The town’s old quarter was listed as a World Heritage Site in 1995 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), which determined that its architecture was culturally significant and worthy of preservation.
Popular attractions in and around the town include the Phu Si stupa, the Sae and Kuangxi waterfalls, and the large night market which sells an attractive range of handicrafts.

By Siladda Suliyong
 (Latest Update December 31, 2024)