For Dobgyai, a tourism park manager just outside Tibet's capital
Lhasa, knew the Qinghai-Tibet railway would make his life busier but
he still was not prepared for the influx.
"I never expected so many people to come all at once," said the
harried manager who has to turn visitors away.
Dobgyai said that his Niangre Tibetan Folklore and Customs
Tourism Park, six kilometers north of Lhasa, has been full to
capacity with 200 tourists visiting each day since the
1,956-km-long railway began carrying passengers on July 1.
According to Tibet Autonomous Regional Tourism Administration, the
new rail line delivered 49,700 passengers in Lhasa during its first
24 days of operations. Trains run between Lhasa and five inland
cities of China including Beijing and Shanghai.
Dobgyai said his park received more than 30,000 tourists last
year, but he expects that number to exceed 50,000 this year.
The railway has also brought benefits to people living in more
remote areas of Tibet.
"I'm satisfied with by my business over the last month," said
Yuzhoin, who operates the Kangzhuo Holiday Village in Naiqiong
Town, Doilungdeqen County, more than 20 kilometers west of
Lhasa.
"All the 20 guest houses in my village have been fully occupied
since July 1," she said.
Lobsang Gyaicain, vice chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Regional
Government, said the number of tourists traveling to Tibet by air,
long-distance bus or driving on their own have also increased
markedly. He credits the tourist campaign "Travel to Tibet" which
was launched in connection with the opening of the railway for
stimulating people's interest in getting to Tibet anyway they
can.
Lobsang Gyaicain said, Tibet hosted about 300,000 tourists who
spent at least one night in the region during the July 1-20 period,
up 50 percent over the corresponding period of last year. The
figure included 172,000 tourists who traveled by air and 41,000 who
arrived by road transport.
The occupancy rate of guest houses in Lhasa reached 80 percent
during the period, the official said.
The regional tourism administration forecast that Tibet is
expected to host more than 2.6 million tourists in 2006, a rise of
44 percent year on year. Tourism income will reach 2.8 billion yuan
(US$350 million), up 45 percent over last year.
The Qinghai-Tibet Railway stretches 1,956 kilometers from
Xining, capital of northwest China's Qinghai Province, to Lhasa.
About 960 kilometers is located 4,000 meters above sea level and
the highest point is 5,072 meters, at least 200 meters higher than
the Peruvian railway in the Andes, formerly the world's highest
track.
(Xinhua News Agency August 3, 2006)