Tibet aims to host 17 million tourists ,Tourism and Culture Expo concluded
Lhasa : The 2nd Tibet International Tourism and Culture Expo concluded in Lhasa, capital of Tibet Autonomous Region in southwest China recently.
Officials, experts and representatives of companies from countries including Australia, Canada, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Nepal and Russia, as well as 24 provinces, municipalities and regions attended the expo held on September 28-30.
Forums and exhibitions on Tibet’s tourism, culture and the Tibetan medicine industry, as well as investment and trade promotion were organized during the expo according to Ai Juntao, deputy head of the organizing committee’s office.
“Huge progress has been achieved in the development of tourist industry in Tibet, which has become a pillar of the region’s economy,” said Li Shihong, deputy head of the China National Tourism Administration.
Tourism revenue, accounting for over 20 percent of the region’s GDP, rose 30 percent year-on-year in the first half of 2015. Tibet aims to host 17 million tourists this year.
“Tibet will seize the strategic opportunity of Belt and Road Initiative, opening up further to both domestic and foreign tourists,” said Losang Jamcan, chairman of the regional government.
Meanwhile, Tibet in southwest China has welcomed 14.3 million tourists in the first eight months of 2015.This generated 19 billion yuan ( 3 billion U.S. dollars) in tourism revenue, according to the Tourism Development Commission of Tibet Autonomous Region.
The May to October period is high tourism season for Tibet, and a big influx of visitors is expected during the week-long National Day holiday which begins on Oct. 1.Source – Xinhua
