The China-Laos Railway, linking the Lao capital Vientiane with Kunming, the capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, has helped to significantly boost tourism in the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia, which is experiencing a surge in both domestic and international arrivals.
Since its launch in December 2021, the 1,035-kilometer rail line has helped to connect the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Laos' strategy to convert itself from a landlocked country to a land-linked hub in the Indo-China Peninsula.
"The railway has brought benefits to tourism in the country, not only from visitors from China of course, but also other international tourists who are visiting Vientiane and then being able to connect on up to Luang Prabang and other important tourist sites. And then it has also brought a surge in domestic tourists," said Steven Cleary, a Vientiane-based analyst.
With only a 3.5-kilometer-long railroad to Thailand previously, the economic development of Laos had long been restricted.
Thanks to the launch of the China-Laos Railway cross-border passenger train service in April 2023, tourism got activated in Laos, a top priority amid the Lao government's efforts to revitalize the economy.
"Taking a train here is not only good and quite comfortable but also allows us to enjoy the scenery along the way," said Zhuo Liyan, a Chinese tourist of a group that traveled down to Vientiane from Yunnan.
"I feel very happy, very good, and eat very well," said Wang Yiyong, another Chinese tourist.
The railway plays a crucial role in attracting more visitors to explore the plentiful tourist attractions in the South Asian country.
For instance, nestled in the lush jungle surrounding the historic royal settlement, Luang Prabang, situated beside the Mekong River, is renowned for its architecture and magnificent Buddhist temples. The town was listed by UNESCO as a world heritage in 1995.
Previously, reaching Luang Prabang involved a lengthy and strenuous journey by road, but now, it is just a two-hour train ride away from Vientiane.
"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," said Peter Lusse, a Dutch tourist.
China-Laos Railway helps boost tourist arrivals in Laos
Millions of Syrians displaced to neighboring countries by the country's civil war now face a dilemma: whether to return to their war-devastated homeland to start from square one or continue to stay in the countries where they have already built a new life.
Since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011, millions of Syrians have been forced to seek refuge in Türkiye, Iraq and other neighboring countries.
Türkiye is home to approximately 3.5 million registered Syrian refugees, according to official statistics.
Six of the 11 border crossings between Türkiye and Syria are currently open, and the Cilvegozu border crossing in Hatay is the largest of them.
The crossing is currently open around the clock, with online same-day appointment travel permits available, and additional support provided by volunteers, including language translation and baggage handling services.
"My name is Mohammed al-Sabah. I'm from Aleppo and I have been living in Türkiye for 10 years. My house in Syria was destroyed in an air strike many years ago, but I had to go back to Syria to rebuild our country," said a 62-year-old Syrian refugee.
Syria has been devastated by years of war, and for many Syrian refugees, Türkiye's encouragement policy is not enough to dispel their practical concerns, and it is still a problem for them to decide whether to return or to stay.
For many Syrian families who have spent years in Türkiye, roots have been firmly established.
Abdulkadir Al-Hasan, a 35-year-old Syrian refugee, has established a new life in Türkiye, where he is able to support his family through his skills as a heavy machinery operator, including driving excavators and harvesters.
"We used to live in Hama in Syria but the whole city was destroyed. My brother went back last week, only to find that there was no water, no electricity, and no job. It is impossible to live there," said Hasan.
Torn between the life he has built in Türkiye and the pull of his homeland, Hasan finds himself in a difficult position.
"The schools back home have not been restored, so for the sake of our children's education, we have to stay. I will consider going back if order is restored in Syria and the country is on its feet again, but now there is only a title for the government, but nothing else," Hasan said.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) also warned of the challenges facing the returnees.
"There is this humanitarian crisis ongoing inside Syria, some still say the security situation is still fragile in many parts of Syria," said Selin Unal, spokesperson of the UNHCR in Türkiye.
Displaced Syrians caught in dilemma of returning or staying
