The government of Tibet is expecting an increase in the number of tourists to the country this year.
It is expected that about 10 million tourists will visit the mountain state this year according to a local tourism official, and tourism is expected to bring CNY12bn into the country.
Tourism activity in Tibet has been on the increase over the years as the government has increased its focus on welcoming visitors from beyond its borders. Yu Yungui, head of the Communist Party committee of the region’s tourism bureau, said that more than seven million tourists had visited Tibet from January to August, an increase of 25 percent year-on-year.
Yu said that tourist revenues in Tibet were increasing because of various programmes implemented by the government, which included new activities and services for clients. Tibet’s main attraction has been its cultural tourism and travellers visit the country to learn about Buddhism and its cultural elements. In addition, its rugged mountains and scenic beauty have been great attractions for tourists from far and wide. The Tibetan administration has been promoting the tourist potential of the region using large-scale advertising and through various festivals, including the Tibetan New Year.
Tibet is located on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and it is mostly populated by ethnic Tibetans. Some of its most famous tourist destinations include the world’s highest peak Mount Qomolangma (Mount Everest), the sacred lake Nam Co, and Tibetan Buddhism heritage sites including the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and Zhaxi Lhunbo Monastery.
About 300,000 people are involved in the tourism sector in the region.
