VIENTIANE, May 15 (Xinhua) -- The Lao government has introduced stricter entry requirements for foreign tourists, requiring tour operators to provide confirmed hotel bookings covering the entire duration of visitors' stays as part of new security and tourism management measures.

Under a notice issued by the Lao Ministry of Public Security on May 12, tourism operators arranging inbound travel must now submit hotel reservation confirmations from arrival to departure dates when applying for permission to bring tourists into Laos, local news website Lao Phattana News reported on Friday.

The measure aims to strengthen security, improve visitor tracking, and integrate accommodation data into a modern tourism management system. Tourism businesses nationwide have been instructed to strictly comply with the regulation.

The tighter controls come as Laos continues to see strong growth in international tourism following its post-pandemic recovery. According to the Tourism Development Department under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the country welcomed 4.58 million international visitors in 2025, up 11 percent from 2024. In 2024, Laos recorded more than 4.1 million foreign arrivals, nearly one million more than in 2023.

Authorities believe the stricter entry rules will improve tourism management and safety standards. ■