Lonely Planet reports that over 1.9 million domestic and foreign visitors visited Luang Prabang province in the first 11 months of 2024.

This shows an increase of over one million tourists compared to the same period last year.

Over 1.3 million of these came from overseas, marking an increase of around 87.43 percent.

The top 10 source markets for visitors travelling to Laos this year were China, South Korea, the USA, Thailand, France, Sweden, Austria, Germany, Canada, and Japan.

This tourism surge has helped generate over US$1 billion in revenue.

Notable distinctions

It should be noted that Luang Prabang was also listed among Green Destinations’ Top 100 Stories for 2024 in recognition of its efforts to ensure responsible tourism whilst maintaining its distinctive appeal. Laos was one of 32 countries on the Green Destinations 2024 Top 100 Stories list announced in October of this year.

Also, Luang Prabang was the first and only destination in Laos to be selected as one of the 2024 Top 100 Destination Sustainability Stories under the category Preservation of architectural housing styles in a world heritage area.

A hub for tourism

Luang Prabang is one of the most well-known provinces in Laos and is a top tourist draw because of its riverside location, old temples, quaint streets and alleyways, colorful 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 by the United Nations.

Popular attractions in and around the town include the Phu Si stupa, Sae Waterfall, Kuangxi Waterfall, and the large night market which is renowned for the many handicrafts on sale.