The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), also known as One Belt One Road (OBOR), is a global cooperation policy initiated by China. It focuses on economic significance, promoting trade, and fostering cultural and technological exchanges (Ohashi, 2018).Consequently, the Chinese government is actively involved in developing infrastructure such as transportation routes and constructing high-speed railways across Asia and Europe to boost trade and improve logistics networks among participating countries (Prachachat, 2023). The China-Laos high-speed railway is a key connectivity project under the BRI plan, aiming to link over 70 countries across Asia, Africa, and Europe through the construction of roads, railways, ports, and airports. This aligns with Laos' strategy to transform itself from a landlocked country into a land-linked hub (Kapook Travel, 2021). The railway connects Vientiane, the capital of Laos, with Kunming, the capital city of Yunnan province in China, covering a total distance of 1,035 kilometers, of which 414 kilometers lie within Laos. The railway commenced service on December 3, 2021, offering passenger trains that can reach speeds of up to 160 kilometers per hour (Thai Public Broadcasting Service, 2022). This route has since become popular among tourists worldwide.
Currently, countries around the world place significant importance on the BRI route. For example, the Republic of Korea (ROK) has shown interest in exploring its stance and policies towards China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), focusing on the economic benefits that can be gained through participation in the BRI and linking it with South Korea's regional policies (Pugacheva & Piatachkova, 2021). Additionally, under the ASEAN Connectivity concept, member countries aim to enhance connections between China and ASEAN, believing that this will benefit their nations and people across various dimensions, including the economy, tourism, society, and culture. This is especially relevant today as China has become the world's largest market, second only to the US consumer goods market (Schulhof, Van Vuuren, & Kirchherr, 2022).
Thailand plays a significant role in driving various ASEAN cooperation frameworks (ASEAN Community, 2022). Currently, Thailand is classified as a developing country due to issues such as unequal access to transportation systems (Theerathitichaipa, Wisutwattanasak, Se, et al., 2024). Therefore, advancing logistics system development to ensure regional and international connectivity has become a crucial issue for Thailand and is set to become a key policy objective for the future. Thailand aims to position itself as a central transportation hub connecting ASEAN regions with the rapidly growing China in all dimensions (Thai Civil Rights and Investigative Journalism, 2024). Thailand shares a border with Laos that stretches 1,810 kilometers, comprising 12 provinces: Chiang Rai, Phayao, Nan, Uttaradit, Phitsanulok, Loei, Nong Khai, Bueng Kan, Nakhon Phanom, Amnat Charoen, Mukdahan, and Ubon Ratchathani. Thailand has the most border checkpoints with Laos, totaling 49 points, which include 20 permanent checkpoints and 29 temporary trade checkpoints. The Nong Khai checkpoint holds the highest trade value, accounting for 34.93% of total border trade. According to the 2020 statistics from the Department of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Commerce of Thailand, the border trade between Thailand and Laos represents 99.2% of the total border trade value when compared to other countries bordering Thailand. Furthermore, Thailand has the highest cross-border trade with China, with a value of 341,180.69 million baht (Ministry of Commerce, 2020). Thailand's tourism industry significantly impacts the national economy. According to the UNWTO Tourism Highlights report by the World Tourism Organization in 2019, Thailand ranked 7th globally as a tourist destination, attracting 40 million international visitors. Notable tourist attractions include Bangkok and Phuket (The nation, 2022). Thailand was also ranked 4th in terms of tourism revenue, generating a total of 61 billion USD with a growth rate of 3%. The Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Thailand's 2019 statistics indicate that China is the leading country of origin for tourists visiting Thailand, accounting for 28% of total international arrivals (Tourism Council of Thailand, 2023).
In recent years, numerous studies have sought to understand the public's perception of the benefits of the BRI across various aspects, given its potential to bring significant economic and social changes to participating countries. For instance, in the USA, a study (O’Trakoun, 2018) on China's BRI and regional perceptions used survey data to analyze these views. The findings indicated that an increase in Chinese Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in a country improved respondents’ perception of China’s influence on their nation. It also showed that these perceptions correlated with future business confidence in the Asia-Pacific region. In India, a study (Sachdeva, 2018) explored the country's awareness of China's BRI. The research gathered broad perceptions from the developing nation, highlighting that as the BRI progresses, India focuses more on domestic connectivity plans. This study also pointed out that the BRI is increasingly analyzed through the lens of the political economy of participating countries, considering challenges such as debt traps, corruption, political disputes, environmental impacts, and the overall sustainability of the project. A joint study in China and Pakistan examined the social impacts, (Mahmood, Ali, Menhas, & Sabir, 2022)infrastructure development, and tourism related to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). This research collected data from respondents living along the CPEC route through face-to-face interviews and used structural equation modeling techniques to analyze the results. The study found that CPEC plays a significant role in the socio-economic and rural development of Pakistan. The expectations from the BRI could lead to positive changes in infrastructure, energy sectors, and social development projects in Pakistan. It also indicated that CPEC would connect rural areas to urban centers, offering development opportunities to achieve sustainable development. In Laos, a study (Khamphengvong, Zhang, Wu, & Thavisay, 2022) investigated the economic and social impacts on Laotian attitudes towards the benefits received from the BRI. Using structural equation modeling and multigroup analysis, the study assessed the research model. The findings showed that economic and social determinants positively influence perceived benefits of the BRI, with education, tourism, and foreign direct investment (FDI) being the primary drivers of economic and social benefits. Previous studies in Thailand have examined perceptions of the BRI, but they mainly focused on the strategic perspective of Thailand towards China's BRI expansion. These studies reflected only the views of academics, government officials, and politicians in Thailand (Punyaratabandhu & Swaspitchayaskun, 2021). However, there is a lack of comprehensive research on the perceptions of the general Thai population, including public and private sectors and residents in border provinces adjacent to Laos along the BRI route. Punyaratabandhu and Swaspitchayaskun (2021) also revealed that projects and collaborations in Thailand under the BRI have not progressed significantly. To fill this gap, this study was conducted within the context of a developing country like Thailand. It encompasses all relevant factors influencing public perception and the impact on the BRI, including foreign direct investment, tourism, employment, education, living standards, social conditions, international relations, economy, and logistics and transportation.
If Thailand adequately prepares for the China-Laos high-speed rail, it could lead to significant opportunities for the country (Punyaratabandhu & Swaspitchayaskun, 2018). For instance, in the trade sector, Thailand could increase its exports to Laos and China, given that Thai products are known for their quality, and China has enormous purchasing power. Additionally, high-speed rail transportation can reduce both the time and cost of shipping goods (Vickerman, 2018). In terms of services and tourism, the high-speed rail could make it more convenient for Chinese and Laotian tourists to visit Thailand, providing an opportunity for Thailand to attract more tourists. Finally, in the realm of foreign investment, Chinese investors have shown growing interest in Thailand. Currently, China is increasingly relocating its production bases to Thailand. If this trend continues, it could result in more job creation and help reduce income inequality through the decentralized distribution of investment across various regions (Bank of Thailand, 2021).
Based on the importance stated above, this research is considered novel due to the aforementioned importance. Its objective is to investigate indicators of benefit perception factors. It includes studying the factors influencing the BRI and analyzing how these factors relate to the intention of Thai people to use the China-Laos high-speed rail service. The study will apply the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to appropriately adapt to and manage the changes that Thai people will face with the implementation of the BRI policy and accompanying technological advancements affecting both the economic and social realms. This aims to enhance developmental opportunities across various dimensions and assist in formulating effective policies and measures to support these changes for relevant agencies in Thailand.