PHNOM PENH, Mar 15 (NNN-AKP) – Cambodian Minister of Tourism, Thong Khon, said yesterday that, he hoped the China-Laos Railway would help bring more international tourists to the kingdom. The railway, which connects Kunming in south-west China’s Yunnan Province, with the Lao capital Vientiane, was launched in Dec, 2021.
Khon, currently in neighbouring Laos for a four-day visit, said, he had travelled on the China-Laos Railway for the first time, from Vientiane to Luang Prabang province. “Travelling by the high-speed train is safe, and fares are also cheap,” he said in a news release, posted on the Ministry of Tourism’s Facebook page.
“A lot of Laotian and Thai passengers have travelled on this railway to China, and many Chinese travellers have also visited Laos and Thailand by this way,” he said. “This raises hopes that the railway will help bring more tourists to Cambodia in the future.”
The minister said, Cambodia is expected to receive four million international tourists this year, after China optimised its anti-COVID-19 strategy on Jan 8, and resumed outbound group tours on Feb 6.
“This year, we hope to attract between 800,000 and one million Chinese tourists,” Khon said.
Tourism is one of the four pillars supporting Cambodia’s economy. The nation has three world heritage sites, namely the Angkor archaeological park in north-west Siem Reap province, Preah Vihear Temple in north-west Preah Vihear province, and Sambor Prei Kuk archaeological site, in central Kampong Thom province.
Besides, it has a pristine coastline stretching 450 km in four south-west provinces of Sihanoukville, Kampot, Kep and Koh Kong.
– NNN-AKP
