Laos Tourism Development: New railway gives boost to international, domestic travel
Laos' tourism sector continues to be the driving force behind the nation's economic growth. A slower than expected pandemic recovery, currency depreciation and high inflation have all made for a dire economic outlook. Among the catalysts for tourism growth is the new China-Laos Railway, which links Kunming in southern China to the Lao capital Vientiane. CGTN's Rian Maelzer has more on the nation's tourism upturn.
Vientiane's tourist attractions include the imposing Patuxay arch, the golden That Luang stupa and more offbeat sites like this park with its fantastical Hindu and Buddhist-inspired statues.
Traveling north, there's the natural beauty of Vang Vieng, and historic charms of the UNESCO heritage town Luang Prabang. And thanks to the new China-Laos Railway, they are all accessible like never before.
STEVEN CLEARY Laos Analyst "The railway has brought benefits to tourism in the country, not only from visitors from China of course, but also international tourists who are visiting Vientiane and then being able to connect on to Luang Prabang and other important tourist sites. And then it has also led to a surge in domestic tourists."
This Chinese group travelled down to Vientiane from Yunnan province.
LIYAN ZHUO Chinese Tourist "Taking the train is very easy. Although the journey is very long, we can enjoy the scenery along the way."
WANG YIYONG Chinese Tourist "Our group is very happy. The food is very tasty, the environment is good and the people are very friendly."
Reaching Luang Prabang used to entail a long, arduous drive, or a flight. Now, it's just two hours by train.
PETER LUSSE Dutch Tourist "We heard that it's a great experience to travel by train – you get to see a lot more of the country and experience it and it's a very convenient method of transportation. So, we're looking forward to making that journey."
RIAN MAELZER Vientiane "Being landlocked has long been seen as a disadvantage for Laos. But it also places the country at the heart of the region, with Laos sharing land borders with four Southeast Asian countries, plus China."
Train links to Thailand are improving and regional airlines are ramping up their direct connections.
It's all helping bring more people to see this colorful but often overlooked corner of Southeast Asia and providing a welcome boost to Laos' economy.
Rian Maelzer, CGTN, Vientiane.
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