Chinese railway could put Laos on the tourist map

By Brian King, CNN
4 minute read
Updated 4:06 AM EDT, Tue August 22, 2017
<strong>Pha That Luang:</strong> Located in Vientiane, the capital of Laos, Pha That Luang is the country's most important monument. The gold-covered "Great Stupa" is a symbol of the city and believed to enshrine a breast bone of the Buddha.
Pha That Luang: Located in Vientiane, the capital of Laos, Pha That Luang is the country's most important monument. The gold-covered "Great Stupa" is a symbol of the city and believed to enshrine a breast bone of the Buddha.
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<strong>Vang Vieng:</strong> Outside the capital, Laos draws travelers to its low-key heritage villages, such as Vang Vieng, in Central Laos. The area is known for its limestone mountains, caves, and turquoise lagoons.
Vang Vieng: Outside the capital, Laos draws travelers to its low-key heritage villages, such as Vang Vieng, in Central Laos. The area is known for its limestone mountains, caves, and turquoise lagoons.
WitthayaP/Shutterstock
<strong>Wat Sensoukharam temple</strong>: Located in Luang Prabang, one of Laos' oldest towns, this striking Buddhist temple dates back to the 18th century. Wat Sensoukharam is known for its architecture, said to have been built with more than 100,000 Mekong River stones.
Wat Sensoukharam temple: Located in Luang Prabang, one of Laos' oldest towns, this striking Buddhist temple dates back to the 18th century. Wat Sensoukharam is known for its architecture, said to have been built with more than 100,000 Mekong River stones.
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<strong>Tad Fane Waterfall:</strong> Tucked away in Champasak province, in southwestern Laos, this waterfall tumbles 100 meters into the heart of a dramatic gorge. Elsewhere in the rainforest, travelers might spot leopards, tigers, elephants and monkeys.
Tad Fane Waterfall: Tucked away in Champasak province, in southwestern Laos, this waterfall tumbles 100 meters into the heart of a dramatic gorge. Elsewhere in the rainforest, travelers might spot leopards, tigers, elephants and monkeys.
Peera_stockfoto/Shutterstock
<strong>Bokeo Nature Reserve:</strong> The misty rainforest in Bokeo Nature Reserve as seen from a treehouse at The Gibbon Experience forest camp. At this conservation project, travelers can experience the world of swinging apes from non-invasive observatories, built into the canopy.
Bokeo Nature Reserve: The misty rainforest in Bokeo Nature Reserve as seen from a treehouse at The Gibbon Experience forest camp. At this conservation project, travelers can experience the world of swinging apes from non-invasive observatories, built into the canopy.
Felix Choo / Alamy Stock Photo
<strong>Buddha Park:</strong> Located just east of the capital, the beautiful Buddha Park contains 200-some Buddha statues of all sizes.
Buddha Park: Located just east of the capital, the beautiful Buddha Park contains 200-some Buddha statues of all sizes.
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<strong>Plain of Jars: </strong>This mysterious site is home to hundreds of jars, thought to have been created by an ancient civilization as early as 200 AD. Some areas are off-limits, due to unexploded bombs left over from the Indochina wars.
Plain of Jars: This mysterious site is home to hundreds of jars, thought to have been created by an ancient civilization as early as 200 AD. Some areas are off-limits, due to unexploded bombs left over from the Indochina wars.
faizol musa/Shutterstock
<strong>Mekong River:</strong> The majestic Mekong River snakes through Laos, along the border with Thailand. Along the river, travelers will find the Pak Ou Caves -- packed with thousands of Buddha shrines.
Mekong River: The majestic Mekong River snakes through Laos, along the border with Thailand. Along the river, travelers will find the Pak Ou Caves -- packed with thousands of Buddha shrines.
AsiaTravel/Shutterstock
<strong>Wat Phu: </strong>This UNESCO world heritage site in Champasak, in southern Laos, sits at the base of a mountain, not far from the Mekong River. Dating back to the 11th century, the Khmer-Hindu temple complex is a popular place of worship.
Wat Phu: This UNESCO world heritage site in Champasak, in southern Laos, sits at the base of a mountain, not far from the Mekong River. Dating back to the 11th century, the Khmer-Hindu temple complex is a popular place of worship.
Peera_stockfoto/Shutterstock
<strong>Nong Kiau Village:</strong> Set in the dense jungles of northern Laos, Nong Kiau Village is easily accessible via boats and kayaks on Nam Ou River. It's a great place for hiking, too, thanks to dramatic canyons, small footpaths, and limestone caves in the hills.
Nong Kiau Village: Set in the dense jungles of northern Laos, Nong Kiau Village is easily accessible via boats and kayaks on Nam Ou River. It's a great place for hiking, too, thanks to dramatic canyons, small footpaths, and limestone caves in the hills.
LMspencer/Shutterstock
10 reasons to visit Laos

Editor’s Note: Brian King is professor and associate dean at the School of Hotel and Tourism Management at Hong Kong Polytechnic University. He is editor-in-chief of the journal “Tourism Culture & Communication.”

CNN  — 

Golden temples, Mekong River cruises, mighty waterfalls and nearly two dozen national parks. On paper, Laos has it all.

But the land-locked Buddhist country welcomed only around 4.2 million visitors in 2016 – a paltry achievement compared with its southeastern Asian neighbors. In that same year, there were 32 million tourist arrivals in Thailand, 26.8 million in Malaysia and over 10 million in Vietnam – all countries boasting long coastlines of gorgeous beaches.

Meanwhile, Cambodia is famed internationally for its Angkor Wat “Tomb Raider” temples, and recently opened-up Myanmar is growing its tourism industry.

Laos, it seems, just isn’t on the radar for most international travelers headed to southeast Asia, aside from young backpackers. But things could be set to change.

A high-speed rail link between Laos and China expected to open in 2022 has poised the country for a game-changing influx of Chinese tourists.

Why visit Laos?