Lao visa-free policy for Chinese tourists takes effect July 1

As part of the measures for Visit Laos Year 2024, the Lao government began implementing a visa-free policy for Chinese tourists on July 1, triggering a new wave of cross-border tours between the two countries.

Tourists go through customs clearance at Mohan border gate.

Following the Lao government’s announcement on the visa-free arrangement, the Mohan railway and highway gates near the China-Laos border have upgraded the facilities and assigned more staff members fluent in the Laotian language to facilitate customs clearance.

 

Tourists have a group photo at Mohan highway border gate.

As of June 30, the Mohan gates in south Yunnan have handled more than 950,000 cross-border tourists. Among them, over 610,000 were Chinese tourists visiting Laos, a year-on-year increase of 33%. More than 320,000 Laotians visited China for sightseeing, friendship or business, up 69% year on year.

 

Tourists go through customs clearance at Mohan border gate. 

Source: Yunnan Daily; Trans-editing by Wang Shixue