Photo shows tourists visiting the Dzongyab Lukhang in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, during the Spring Festival holiday. [Photo/Tang Bin]

Southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region welcomed 438,300 tourists during the Spring Festival holiday, up 40.7% year-on-year. Total tourism revenue also rose 46.5% to 315 million yuan, according to the regional Tourism Development Commission Wednesday. The Potala Palace, Basum Co and Yarlung Zangbo Great Canyon are popular scenic spots. The Potala Palace received 27,956 visitors during the period. 

"We enjoyed our Spring Festival in Xizang. We tasted traditional local food and experienced local customs. We will stay here for another few days and visit some scenic spots," said Miss. Li, a tourist from southwest China's Yunnan Province.

Recently, the "Winter Tour to Tibet, sharing the third pole of the earth" Campaign will be extended to Mar. 9 of 2022 to energize the local tourism market. The move is among a spate of preferential policies the region has launched since 2018 for winter, an off-season for local tourism. Free visits to tourist attractions except temples are part of the benefits.