I think this is just starting. Thailand did same thing before pandemic era, when they have plenty of tourist they start flexing muscles so other sorts of income pours in to the diamond hands at the places we know
Entire euro zone, japan, possibly all of the western world give 2 x 90 days visa exempt, total 180 days a year. So it is a very common thing. Nothing surprising here
Thanks Jan, I was thinking of purchasing an outbound flight ticket for March or early April from Thailand and then to fly-in from Laos to Bkk as you said. Alternative, is to apply for a 2 month tourist e-visa in Vientiane.