VIENTIANE, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Laos will continue its training programs to develop a skilled and sufficient tour guide workforce to meet the growing demands of the tourism sector, aiming to ensure high-quality service, improve visitor experiences, and encourage repeat visits.

A national tour guide training course is being held from Monday to July 22, with over 90 participants taking part in both classroom learning and hands-on field training, including guided site visits. Trainees will be evaluated by a monitoring committee based on established criteria, the local Pasaxon newspaper reported on Tuesday.

Upon completion, successful trainees will be certified and recommended for official tour guide licenses by the relevant department.

Tourism remains a vital economic driver in Laos, with the potential to stimulate related sectors such as transportation, hospitality, food services, health, and handicrafts.

The Lao government views tourism and the role of trained tour guides as essential to job creation, income generation and poverty reduction, especially in rural areas with growing tourism potential.

Laos aims to attract 4.3 million international tourists in 2025, with expectations to generate over 1 billion U.S. dollars in revenue.