Cambodia Eyes Boost in Chinese Tourist Arrivals through Kunming-Vientiane Railway

• Sommana Yan
• 14 March 2023
• Local News
• 2248 Views

Cambodia is aiming to attract more Chinese tourists through the Kunming-Vientiane high-speed railway, in a bid to revive its tourism sector. The affordable fee for train services and the cooperation on travel policies, including the permit for tourists to drive across Cambodia-Lao borders, are expected to increase the reciprocal flow of tourists.  

Minister of Tourism, HE Thong Khon, stated that the Kunming-Vientiane high-speed railway is the “hope of the influx of tourists to Cambodia” due to the high number of Chinese, Lao, and Thai tourists travelling between the three countries. The railway is also considered safe and reliable. 

During a bilateral meeting with the Lao Minister of Information, Culture, and Tourism, Mrs. Suanesavanh Vignaket, both parties acknowledged the importance of infrastructure and connectivity between the two countries, which are vital to attracting more tourists from both countries and regions. The focus on facilitating cross-border travel, especially self-driving tourism through Cambodia from Loa border through the Phnom Penh Expressway to visit Preah Sihanoukville., is seen as an opportunity to revive the tourism sector.  

HE Thong Khon added that the high-speed train running from Vientiane to Kunming is one of the hopes of tourists flowing to Cambodia in the future, stating that “a lot of people like to travel, and the tickets are cheap, and the train is safe.” 

Cambodia and Thailand are also discussing the process of allowing tourists from the two nations to drive personal vehicles across their borders. 

• Tourism and Travelling
• Road and Infrastructure