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The number of tourists coming to southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region has been increasing quickly since the ban on local tourism was lifted on July 1.
Local tourism activities were halted due to the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).
The first group of 22 foreign visitors arrived in Tibet on July 2, marking the reopening of Tibet's tourism operation. Incomplete statistics show 313 domestic visitors and 588 foreign tourists have come to Tibet since July 1.
According to Jinme, an official with Tibet Tourism Bureau, domestic tourists are more active than their foreign counterparts in arranging tours to the mountainous plateau.
Seventy-four international and 144 domestic tourist groups have registered to visit Tibet later in July. The local tourism industry is expected to return to normal by the middle of August, when Xodoin Festival, also dubbed the Tibetan Opera Festival, is held.
Tibetan tourism and transportation departments have launched a series of discounts to attract more domestic and foreign visitors.
(Xinhua News Agency July 11, 2003)
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