According to data, Tibet received 67.89 million tourists from both home and abroad at an annual average growth rate of 23.4 percent during the period of 12th Five-Year Plan. The tourism revenue totally reached 87.46 billion yuan RMB (about 13.5 billion U.S. dollars), increasing by an annual average of 30.5 percent.

During the period of 13th Five-Year Plan, Tibet will further expand tourism industry. It is estimated that tourism investment and consumption growth will exceed the national average. By the end of 2020, Tibet will has received 30 million tourists, generating 55 billion yuan RMB (about 8.5 billion U.S. dollars) in tourism revenue.

Karma Tseten, Secretary of Party Committee of Tibet's Tourism Development Committee, said that in 2016, Tibet strives to receive 23 million tourists and create 350,000 working posts in tourism. The number of farmers and herdsmen engaging in tourism will amount to 110,000. The per capita disposable income of those farmers and herdsmen will get 11,800 yuan RMB (about 1,821 U.S. dollars).

In a bid to promote coordinated development of Tibet's tourism, Tibet, following the theme of building the world's top destination, creates four excellent circular travel lines that are centered on Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. Besides, Tibet will make great efforts to build Lhasa International Cultural Tourism City, Nyingchi International Ecotourism City and Gangdise International Cooperative Zone.

In 2016, China's Tibet encourages to develop new scenic spots, new tour lines and new products. Besides, Tibet also promotes the development of rural tourism, cultural tourism and self-driving tourism.

Good ecological environment is an important foundation for the development of Tibet’s tourism. In this year, Tibet will develop tourism on the basis of environmental protection and encourage to use green environmentally-friendly materials.

Photo shows the spring scenery of Lhasa, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region [Xinhua/Zhang Rufeng]

Photo shows Yumbulagang, Tibet's first palace, is located in Shannan of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. [Photo/China Tibet News]

Photo shows the picturesque scenery of Yarlung Zangbo River in Shigatse, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region.  [Xinhua/Chen Tianhu]