In the first quarter, the consumer market in Xizang Autonomous Region achieved "simultaneous growth in both quantity and quality," delivering an impressive performance. The latest data indicates that from January to March, the total retail sales of consumer goods in the region reached 24.417 billion yuan, representing a year-on-year increase of 11.1%, the highest growth rate nationwide. The coordinated growth of urban and rural consumption, the robust recovery of the cultural and tourism economy, the boost in the consumption of major commodities, and the vigorous development of new business formats and models collectively paint a new picture of high-quality development in Xizang's consumer market.

Coordinated development of urban and rural consumption

At the Wanda Plaza on the eastern outskirts of Chengguan District in Lhasa, a bustling crowd of shoppers can be seen. Resident Dawa brought his family along for some shopping and said, "in the past, we had to go to Chengdu to buy high-end goods. Now, the variety of products in Lhasa is increasingly rich, with international brands, trendy dining options, and children's entertainment facilities all available, providing an excellent consumption experience."

According to statistics, in the first quarter of this year, the retail sales in urban areas of Xizang reached 20.188 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 10.7%. Li Naixuan, the head of the Market System Construction Section at the Lhasa Municipal Bureau of Commerce, introduced that in recent years, the pace of commercial infrastructure construction in Lhasa has accelerated, the consumption environment has been continuously improved, the consumer market has gradually opened up, and the consumption pattern has gradually shifted from "subsistence-oriented" to "quality-oriented," with the city's consumption scale continuing to expand.

In comparison to urban areas, rural consumption growth has been even more rapid. In the first quarter, the retail sales in rural areas of Xizang reached 4.229 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 13.4%.

Cultural and tourism consumption rebound

Data shows that in the first quarter of 2025, Xizang received a 25% year-on-year increase in the number of tourists, and its total tourism revenue grew by 30%, driving comprehensive revenue growth across industries such as accommodation, catering, and retail.

Mr. Chen, a tourist from Guangdong Province, brought his family to participate in the "Winter Tour in Xizang" campaign. He said, "thanks to the preferential policies, we got free admission to the Potala Palace and discounts on hotels. The overall cost was lower than expected, but the experience exceeded our expectations." The "Winter Tour in Xizang" policy has effectively stimulated the winter tourism market through measures such as ticket reductions and exemptions, as well as transportation subsidies.

Driven by cultural and tourism consumption, Xizang's consumer market is exhibiting a new trend of "cultural tourism +" cross-industry integration. On Barkhor Street in Lhasa, new business formats such as Tibetan costume photo shoots and intangible cultural heritage handicraft experiences are highly favored by tourists. Droma, the owner of a Tibetan costume rental shop, said, "now, many tourists not only want to take photos but also understand the cultural connotations of Tibetan costumes. We've launched a package that combines 'Tibetan costume cultural explanation + photo shoot,' and it's very popular."

In addition, new business formats such as sports tourism and study tours are also on the rise. Nyingchi City has created "sports + tourism" consumption scenarios by leveraging events like the peach blossom festival and mountain cross-country races. Xigaze City has launched "red study tour" routes, attracting a large number of youth groups. Moving forward, the Culture and Tourism Department of Xizang Autonomous Region will enhance the application of technologies such as 5G and VR in cultural and tourism scenarios, aiming to create more demonstration projects for "digital culture and tourism."

Trade-ins of consumer goods show notable effectiveness

Data shows that in the first quarter, the retail sales of household appliances and audio-visual equipment above designated size in Xizang increased by 40.4%, while the sales of communication equipment surged by 81.4%.

Automobile consumption has also shown remarkable performance. Xie Guangping, the person in charge of Xizang Xingang Jianyuan Automobile Sales and Service Co., Ltd., introduced, "our company has also participated in the new energy vehicle subsidy program combined with the trade-in policy. Our sales in the first quarter of this year increased by 60% year-on-year, with a maximum exemption of up to 15,000 yuan. Among them, hybrid models are the most popular."

Yang Zhanhui, the deputy director of the Consumption Promotion Division at the Department of Commerce of Xizang Autonomous Region, stated that in the future, the department will diligently implement special initiatives to boost consumption and vigorously promote the deepening and expansion of the trade-in policy. Building on the existing foundation, the trade-in scope will be further broadened, focusing not only on core areas such as home appliances, automobiles, and home furnishings but also precisely identifying market and consumer needs to explore the inclusion of more product categories. Meanwhile, the Department of Commerce of Xizang Autonomous Region will refine the subsidy mechanism, streamline the application process, strengthen cooperation with merchants and recycling enterprises, and establish an efficient recycling network to ensure that the trade-in policy can truly benefit consumers and drive the sustained prosperity and upgrading of the consumer market.

The consumption of basic living goods increases

In addition to bulk commodities and cultural and tourism consumption, basic daily necessities also achieved relatively rapid growth in the first quarter. The retail sales of grain, oil, and food products, as well as tobacco and alcohol, above designated size increased by 44.6% and 36.4%, respectively, jointly contributing 4.4 percentage points to the growth of retail sales above designated size.

This data reflects an improvement in the living standards and an enhancement in consumer confidence among Xizang's residents. With economic development and an increase in residents' incomes, consumers' demands for quality of life are also continually rising, placing greater emphasis on the quality and safety of food.

Shi Chenghua, the deputy director of the Department of Commerce of Xizang Autonomous Region, said, "going forward, we will continue to optimize the consumption environment, combat counterfeit and shoddy goods, and protect the rights and interests of consumers. We will also nurture new forms of consumption, supporting the development of emerging business formats such as live-streaming e-commerce and instant retail. Additionally, we will strengthen regional collaboration to expand the market influence of Xizang's specialty products."

The year 2025 marks a pivotal year for the implementation of the 14th Five-Year Plan. The robust growth of Xizang's consumption market has provided a solid foundation for the region's steady and positive economic development. As strategies such as rural revitalization, the integration of culture and tourism, and green transformation are advanced in depth, Xizang's consumption market is poised to embrace broader development prospects. Meanwhile, driven by a combination of policy empowerment, industrial upgrading, and the release of consumer demand, Xizang is forging a path of consumption upgrading with distinctive plateau characteristics, injecting sustained momentum into the high-quality development of its economy and society.