Tibet attracts more foreign tourists

The number of foreigners traveling to China's Tibet Autonomous Region increased by over 13 percent year on year in the first five months of 2014, local authorities said on Saturday.

Some 26,300 foreigners visited the plateau region, a rise of 13.3 percent from the same period last year, the regional tourism bureau said in a statement.

The number of domestic tourists also rose during the five-month period, with 2.18 millions visitors, a year-on-year increase of 21.2 percent.

Tibet made more than 2.4 billion yuan (388.8 million US dollars) from tourism during the January-May period, up 24.6 percent year on year, it added.

The number of summer visitors is expected to grow, the bureau said. It noted attractions such as holy lakes, Mount Qomolangma and the Shoton Festival, when rare Buddha Thangka paintings will be unfolded in monasteries and at events, such as operas and horse racing.

Tibet's Potala Palace has put into trial operation an online ticketing service. Visitors will be able to purchase tickets at www.potalapalace.cn one week in advance.

In 2013, a record 12.91 million tourists visited Tibet. The figure is expected to reach 15 million this year, said the bureau.

Tibetan Buddhism heritage sites, such as the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and Zhaxi Lhunbo Monastery, remain the most popular tourist attractions.