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China-Laos Railway boosts local tourism during Songkran festival as cross-border passenger services begin

The recent launch of cross-border passenger services on the China-Laos Railway in conjunction with Thailand’s and Laos’ most important festival has boosted the local tourism scene as it recovers from the pandemic.

Since the China-Laos Railway’s cross-border passenger services began on Thursday, Thailand’s northeast province of Nong Khai has celebrated the Songkran festival with neighboring Laos across the Mekong River (13 Apr).

According to Jiranun Sakultangphaisal, an advisor to the Nong Khai tourism association, many tourists will spend the night in the Thai northeast province before traveling to the Laotian capital of Vientiane, which is about 20 kilometers away.

Monnipa Kovitsirikul, Chairperson of the Nong Khai Chamber of Commerce, expressed hope that Chinese tourists visiting Laos would travel further to tour Nong Khai and Thailand’s northeast region.

According to Monnipa, the operation of the China-Laos Railway has benefited many business sectors in Nong Khai by increasing employment and creating new opportunities for the local business community. She has also witnessed new investment from Thailand into Nong Khai, as well as increased efforts by the Thai government to upgrade local infrastructure.

The China-Laos Railway has also provided Thailand with a major transportation link to the vast Chinese market. Due to poor road conditions, goods transport between China, Laos, and Thailand used to take longer. The China-Laos Railway has reduced travel time to around 10 hours, making it easier to transport goods such as fruits that require quick delivery.

The China-Laos Railway, according to Jiranun, is also a road of friendship that brings Thailand, China, and Laos even closer together by increasing connectivity and people-to-people exchanges. She stated that more exchanges would lead to greater understanding, which would lead to increased cooperation.

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