Lao Airlines Launches New Direct Flight to Guangzhou, Bolstering Regional Connectivity
The new route from Pakxe to Guangzhou aims to increase tourism and strengthen ties with China during Visit Laos Year 2024
Lao Airlines is set to expand its international reach with the introduction of direct flights from Pakxe to Guangzhou starting this Sunday. This new service is part of a broader initiative to enhance air travel options and promote tourism during the Visit Laos Year 2024.
The route will be serviced by an Airbus A320, offering weekly flights that depart from Pakxe every Sunday at 23:15 and arrive in Guangzhou at 02:05 the following Monday. The return flights will leave Guangzhou at 03:05 and arrive back in Pakxe at 04:05. To celebrate the inaugural flight, Lao Airlines is offering tickets at a special discounted rate of 2,888,000 kip, a savings from the usual fare of just over 3 million kip.
In addition to the Guangzhou route, Lao Airlines recently announced new and resumed services, including flights from Vientiane to Phnom Penh and from Luang Prabang to Changsha, China. These expansions come as regional carriers like VietJet and AirAsia also increase their operations in Laos, with new routes linking Vientiane with Ho Chi Minh City and Malaysia, respectively.
This increase in flight options is part of a concerted effort to attract more tourists, particularly from southern China. The strategy appears to be paying off, as the number of Chinese tourists visiting Laos has seen a dramatic increase. According to the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism, tourist arrivals from China jumped from 45,000 in 2022 to 641,314 in 2023, with 242,193 visitors recorded in just the first three months of this year.
The expansion of air travel is expected to further stimulate Laos's tourism industry and foster stronger economic and cultural ties with its neighbors, contributing significantly to the nation's growth and development during a year aimed at showcasing its cultural richness and hospitality.
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The route will be serviced by an Airbus A320, offering weekly flights that depart from Pakxe every Sunday at 23:15 and arrive in Guangzhou at 02:05 the following Monday. The return flights will leave Guangzhou at 03:05 and arrive back in Pakxe at 04:05. To celebrate the inaugural flight, Lao Airlines is offering tickets at a special discounted rate of 2,888,000 kip, a savings from the usual fare of just over 3 million kip.
In addition to the Guangzhou route, Lao Airlines recently announced new and resumed services, including flights from Vientiane to Phnom Penh and from Luang Prabang to Changsha, China. These expansions come as regional carriers like VietJet and AirAsia also increase their operations in Laos, with new routes linking Vientiane with Ho Chi Minh City and Malaysia, respectively.
This increase in flight options is part of a concerted effort to attract more tourists, particularly from southern China. The strategy appears to be paying off, as the number of Chinese tourists visiting Laos has seen a dramatic increase. According to the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism, tourist arrivals from China jumped from 45,000 in 2022 to 641,314 in 2023, with 242,193 visitors recorded in just the first three months of this year.
The expansion of air travel is expected to further stimulate Laos's tourism industry and foster stronger economic and cultural ties with its neighbors, contributing significantly to the nation's growth and development during a year aimed at showcasing its cultural richness and hospitality.
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Translation:
Translated by AI
