National Tourism Authority of Lao PDR vice-chairman Phaythalong Douangsavanh said government moves to boost tourism included providing 15-day tourist visas for US$30 (or US$15 for visitors from neighbouring countries) on arrival at major international border checkpoints in Laos.
Luang Prabang Airport had been upgraded to international status, with Lao Aviation offering regular flights from Luang Prabang to Chiang Mai, he said.
An official website, www.visit-laos.com, listed special events and festivals to attract tourists.
Douangsavanh said new products included adventure tours such as rafting on the Nam Ou River in Luang Prabang, hiking and mountain biking, tours of ethnic villages in Laos' northern provinces, Mekong cruises and tours of southern Laos, the pre-Angkor ruins of Wat Phu and Khone Phapheng waterfall.
"Tourism to Laos has steadily increased during the past decade, making Laos one of the fastest-growing tourism markets in Asia," Douangsavanh said.
"In 1990, only 14,400 people visited Laos, but by 1998 the number had risen to 500,200."
More than 500,000 tourists are expected to visit Laos in 1999, he said.
Meanwhile, Tourism Authority of Thailand Agency for Coordinating Mekong Tourism Activities (AMTA) project coordinator Pattama Vilaileot said it would take "some time" before a single visa valid for all Mekong countries was introduced.