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TRAVEL
Explore Laos WITH
CK TRAVEL
Where hospitality meets innovation TEXT BY AMRITA PAUL PHOTOGRAPHS BY CHRIS BARTH above: CK Travel allows travelers to see the real beauty of Laos 1. CK Travel founders Chris Barth and Kevyn McGraw 2. Helicopter charters are available for incredible sightseeing journeys by air
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new but ambitious entrant in the Lao tourism market, CK Travel is a company that aims to revolutionize travel within the country by offering an array of customized services for every kind of traveler. So, whether you are a budget backpacker, an eco-conscious tourist, or a luxury traveler, CK Travel has got you covered. The brainchild of entrepreneurs Chris Barth and Kevyn McGraw, who have lived in Laos for 16 years and 12 years respectively, CK Travel's tagline, "Relax, we got it", aptly sums up the extensive list of services the company wants to provide an increased number of travelers expected next year during Laos' ASEAN Chairmanship and Visit Laos Year 2024.
"Since we have lived in Laos for a long time, we hoped to address the gaps in the country's tourism sector that can be improved. Through CK Travel, we want to promote the hospitality of Lao people and Lao hotels internationally and be the link between the services that exist here already and the tourists that are coming," says Kevyn, who is also the founder of ASEAN Contact Center, a call center development company with over 350 staff, servicing customers from Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, and Brunei. To ensure seamless travel and stay even in the most remote locations, CK Travel has become the first Affiliate Partner of Agoda in Laos, to personally certify and list less traveled destinations on their website (www. cktravel.vip), which might not be available directly on Agoda. "We will also have a 24/7 helpline number, accessible across multiple mobile messaging apps like WhatsApp, Line,