Laos a top source of visitors to Thailand
More and more Lao people are travelling overseas, particularly to Thailand and other ASEAN countries, thanks to Laos’ continuing economic growth which has generated increasing wealth. Director General of the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism’s Tourism Marketing Department, Mr Saly Phimphinith, told Vientiane Times on December 30 that now Laos is part of the ASEAN Community it is easier for people to travel within the region. Laos was among the top source market for tourists visiting Thailand from January to November 2016, according to a TTR Weekly report. Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports reported that the number of international visitors to Thailand exceeded 29.53 million, an increase of 9.78 percent over the period January to November this year. The data is based on foreign passport or ID holders passing through international checkpoints (land, sea and air). Laos is ranked the fifth largest source of tourists visiting Thailand with 1.28 million Lao nationals after China (8.2 million), Malaysia (3.14 million), Republic of Korea (1.32 million) and Japan (1.31 million).
