02 Jan, 2026

Laos’ Inflation Reaches 5.6 Percent in December 2025, Utilities Drive Price Pressures

Laos’ inflation rate stood at 5.6 percent in the last month of 2025, reflecting continued price pressures driven mainly by higher electricity, water, and household-related costs, according to official data.This month’s inflation rate of 5.6 percent marked an increase from 4.8 percent in November and 4.0 percent in October.Meanwhile, the consumer price index (CPI) is at 257.2, down slightly from 258.0 in November but significantly higher than 243.5 recorded in December last year, indicating sustained year-on-year price growth. The housing, water, electricity, and cooking fuel category was the primary driver, surging 18.1 percent. This increase was fueled by a dramatic 105 percent spike in electricity prices and a 40.1 percent rise in water supply costs, alongside higher construction and home repair service fees.Other categories’ prices rose substantially. Healthcare and medicine prices climbed 14.4 percent, while education costs rose 11.4 percent. Clothing and footwear prices increased 8.1 percent. Household goods prices advanced 7.1 percent, and alcohol and tobacco products rose 7.2 percent. The miscellaneous goods and services category recorded the sharpest increase at 29.2 percent.The Ministry of Finance noted that price adjustments in clothing and household goods were linked to fluctuations in the Thai baht exchange rate, as most of these products are imported from Thailand. The baht strengthened to its highest level in over four years against the US dollar during this period.Despite the year-on-year increase, month-on-month prices declined 0.3 percent in December, offering temporary relief. Food and non-alcoholic beverages fell 0.8 percent due to lower vegetable prices, including spring onions, coriander, and cucumbers. Transport and communication costs decreased 0.6 percent, primarily reflecting a 3.7 percent drop in fuel prices.For 2025 as a whole, the average inflation rate stood at 7.7 percent, a sharp slowdown from 21.3 percent in 2024 and 31.2 percent in 2023, when inflation surged in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic.

29 Dec, 2025

Luang Namtha Welcomes Nearly 1.3 Million Tourists in 2025, Surpassing Expectations

Luang Namtha Province has marked a successful year for tourism in 2025, welcoming a total of 1,290,192 visitors both international and domestic, an increase of 2.86 percent compared to the same period of 2024.Somsawat Namintha, Deputy Head of the Department of Culture and Tourism of Luang Namtha Province, reported that among these visitors, 970,760 tourists entered via international checkpoints and 136,410 via the Laos-China Railway.A major factor driving the province’s rise in tourist numbers was a series of vibrant cultural festivals. These included the Akha Swing Festival, Hmong New Year, Rocket Festival, and Boat Racing Festivals in Nalae and Viengphoukha districts, which drew both domestic and international visitors and generated over USD 40 million in revenue.Key highlights of 2025 also featured the Forest Trekking and Boat Trip Festival in the Nam Ha National Protected Area, which promoted sustainable tourism and environmental conservation. In addition, Luang Namtha enhanced its international profile by participating as the “City of Charm” at the 22nd China-ASEAN Expo 2025 in Nanning, China, in September.In addition, the province earned two ASEAN-standard awards for excellence in Community-Based Tourism (CBT) and public sanitation. Strategic projects included designating the Luang Namtha Paddy Fields as a cultural and tourism site.Currently, Luang Namtha has 433 tourism business units, with total investment exceeding LAK 504 billion (about USD 23 million ). Provincial authorities have focused on inspecting and regulating services, particularly improving the central provincial market and ensuring compliance with standards to guarantee service quality.Looking ahead, the province aims to attract 1,441,568 visitors in 2026, generating around USD 45 million in revenue, while continuing to enhance sustainable tourism development.