Tibet gets tough to guard against tourism pollution

Region's chairman says measures vital to protect fragile environment

The Tibet autonomous region has adopted the toughest environmental protection measures in China to prevent pollution caused by the tourism industry, according to the head of the regional government.

"Although tourist activities haven't harmed Tibet's ecosystem, we have already taken measures to prevent possible threats to the environment," Qizhala, the region's chairman, said on Thursday during a plenary meeting of the Tibet delegation to the 13th National People's Congress.