LHASA: Tibet will be reopened to domestic and foreign tourists from May 1, the region's tourism bureau announced yesterday.
Zhanor, a deputy director of the bureau, said both organized tours and independent travelers would be welcome.
The Lhasa riots might cast a shadow in the minds of tourists, but the spectacular natural scenery and unique cultural attractions of Tibet would lure an ever-increasing number of tourists from home and abroad, the official said.
The regional government's foreign affairs office stopped issuing tourist permits to foreign travelers on March 16 following the riots in Lhasa on March 14, citing safety concerns.
The bureau also recommended that Chinese travel agencies postpone tour plans.
In addition to safety concerns, the decision was made because "tourism facilities around scenic spots, such as the Jokhang temple, suffered considerable damage in the riots", said Wang Songping, another deputy director of the regional tourism bureau.
On March 26, 10 days after it was closed for security reasons following the riots, the Potala Palace was reopened to tourists.
However, on the first day, only 24 tourists and 75 Tibetan Buddhists visited the palace, which is on the world cultural heritage list.
So far, 80 percent of the stores damaged in the riots are back in business. Except for those in the severely affected Barkhor Street and Ramoche Temple areas, all other leading shops, supermarkets and farm produce fairs have reopened in Lhasa.
Over the past few years, especially after the Qinghai-Tibet railway started operations in July 2006, tourism has developed into a pillar industry for the plateau region.
Tibet played host to 4 million tourists from home and abroad in 2007, up 60 percent from 2006.
In the first two months of this year, 110,000 tourists visited Tibet, including 6,000 from overseas, local tourism officials said.
Source: Xinhua/China Daily
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