China's Tibet receives 1.88m tourists in Golden Week holiday

LHASA - Southwest China's Tibet autonomous region received 1.88 million domestic and overseas tourists during the Golden Week holiday ending Thursday, with overall tourism revenue of 979 million yuan ($146 million), local authorities said.

Compared with last year's Golden Week, the region saw double-digit growth in both tourist visits and tourism revenue in the first seven days of the eight-day holiday that coincided with the Mid-Autumn Festival this year, according to the regional tourism development department.

The Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple in the regional capital Lhasa, and other major scenic spots were among the top destinations for visitors during the holiday.

Tibet's tourism market showed new trends during the Golden Week, with day trips for local residents, self-drive tours, rural tourism and homestays gaining popularity, the department said.

Tibet has stepped up efforts in stimulating its tourism industry to attract more visitors in recent years. The region received over 40 million tourists in 2019, with tourism revenue hitting 56 billion yuan.