Inbound tourism in Tibet resumed on Saturday as the first group of foreign tourists arrived in Lhasa. Tibet is expected to receive more than 200 overseas tour groups in April.
The group of 11 German tourists arrived in Lhasa on Saturday. The group will stay in Tibet for six days, visiting well-known sites including Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and Mount Everest.
Tourism accounts for one quarter of Tibet's GDP. As the weather gets warmer, Tibet is entering its best period for tourism.
The Lhasa riots in March last year had a negative effect on the region's tourism industry. Tibet received 2.2 million tourists last year, down 44 percent year on year. The number of overseas tourists dropped by more than 80 percent.
(CCTV April 7, 2009)
