Laos listed among top favourites by Thai travellers

The ranking, which was compiled from a survey conducted on the Agoda platform earlier this month, shows that Japan, Taiwan and Laos are leading the pack as the ultimate hotspots for returning visitors, followed by Hong Kong and Vietnam.

Siladda Souliyong

Siladda Souliyong

Vientiane Times

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The Xieng Leu waterfall in Khammuan province is one of Laos’ popular tourist attractions. PHOTO: VIENTIANE TIMES

August 29, 2024

VIENTIANE – Laos is among the countries that Thai travellers have said they would like to return to, with a survey by Agoda revealing that 74 percent of Thais named Japan, Taiwan and Laos as their top choice for a return visit, according to the Travel Daily News.

The ranking, which was compiled from a survey conducted on the Agoda platform earlier this month, shows that Japan, Taiwan and Laos are leading the pack as the ultimate hotspots for returning visitors, followed by Hong Kong and Vietnam.

The largest group of respondents (32 percent) from Thailand cited adventure as the main purpose for their trip. About 23 percent said they travel to enjoy the food on offer, while 20 percent named art and culture as their reason for return visits. Others said the chance to reunite with family and friends was the main factor in their travel plans.

About 54 percent of travellers have visited their favourite destination between 1 and 3 times in the past decade, making up the largest chunk of repeat visitors. 17 percent have visited their favourite destination 10 times or more.

The website also said, when asked what makes Japan, Taiwan and Laos so irresistible, that more than half of Thai respondents chose ease of travel as the primary reason. Local cuisine was a close second, followed by safety and cleanliness, convenient location, and shopping opportunities to round out the top five.

In addition, CNN, the US-based multinational cable news channel, in 2023 named Laos as being among the 23 best places to visit.

Laos was the only country in the ASEAN region to make CNN Travel’s top listing. Four places in Asia were picked for the list, including Laos, the United Arab Emirates, Nepal, and Naoshima in Japan.

Last year, river trips through the Nam Et-Phou Louey National Park in Huaphan province were listed as among the world’s top 10 best night safaris, in an article posted on the Condé Nast Traveler website.

Luang Prabang province was recommended by the American magazine “Time” as one of the 50 greatest places to visit in 2023.

The magazine called Luang Prabang “a hidden paradise”, saying the turquoise waterfalls, Buddhist temples, and sunset boat trips on the Mekong River are just a few of the province’s highlights.

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