World Tibet Network News Sunday, February 01, 1998

LHASA (Feb. 1) XINHUA - Southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region attracted a record high 350,000 travelers from home and overseas last year.

The gross earnings for the tourist industry are estimated at 400 million yuan (48.2 million U.S. dollars), including 30 million U.S. dollars, up 18 percent and 7 percent respectively over 1996. Pre-tax profits are expected to hit 37 million yuan (4.45 million U.S. dollars), up 12 percent from the previous year.

Tang Zhengqi, director of the tourism administrative bureau of the Tibet Autonomous Region, attributed the increased profit to the hard work and responsibility of the region's 4,000 staff members engaged in the travel sector, as well as the economic growth and social stability in recent years.

The local tourism departments intensified their market promotion activities last year and started to publicize Tibet in other parts of China and Southeast Asian countries, while maintaining its traditional European and American markets.

In addition, the region established a department to supervise tourism services, which has been a hit with travelers.