The Tibet Autonomous Region, southwest China, has put tourism at the top of its development agenda, Zhang Wansheng, director of the regional tourism administration said Thursday.
Addressing the opening of a working conference on tourism in this regional capital, the official revealed an ambitious plan for the development of the local tourism industry.
By 2005, the total number of tourist arrivals in Tibet will approach 1.4 million, which include 240,000 overseas visitors, up 25 percent annually, and 1.16 million domestic visitors, up 25 percent annually.
Tibet plans to earn 1.55 billion yuan (US$187 million) in its annual tourism revenue by 2005, accounting for some 10 percent of the regional GDP.
Last year, Tibet received more than 500,000 domestic and overseas travelers, making 630 million yuan directly from the tourism industry, which made up 5.6 percent of the year's GDP of the autonomous region.
In the coming five years, Tibet will further build infrastructure and facilities for tourism and try to attract tourists with new products and projects, the official said.
(Xinhua 03/23/2001)
