Laos’ Deputy Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Darany Phommavongsa, has announced the Laos Government will grant free visas to Chinese visitors under a new policy to boost the nation’s tourism campaigns in 2024.
As reported by local news agency the Laotian Times, the new policy will enable visa exemptions for travellers holding passports from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. However, Taiwan passport holders are still required to obtain a visa slip, which will be issued upon the visitors’ arrival and collected in return before departure from the country.
This visa exemption is also available through travel agencies accredited by the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism.
In addition, the Laos Government also plans to offer multiple-entry visas and extended stays up to 30 to 60 days for visitors from other countries worldwide which include Australia, New Zealand, The United States, Canada, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Travellers from these countries can obtain the approvals through their respective Lao embassies or consulates.
Despite gambling being illegal in Laos, the nation has set up a Special Economic Zone in which casinos can operate, unaffected by the country’s anti-gambling laws. Currently, Laos has three casinos in Savannakhet Province, Bokeo Province and Vientiane.
Macau, which has gaming and tourism revenue as its main income, has seen a rise in revenue as tourism recovers post-pandemic, bringing in more visitors.
