2018: Lhasa welcomes over 19.9 mln visitors

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Lhasa, the capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, welcomed more than 19.9 million visitors to the city in 2018, up by 23.87 percent year on year, local authorities said Tuesday.

The city raked in 28.28 billion yuan (4.21 billion U.S. dollars) from tourism last year, up 24.33 percent year on year, local tourism authorities said at a press conference.

The Potala Palace, Lhasa, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. /VCG Photo

Lhasa is home to some of China's most renowned cultural and tourist sites such as the Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple.

As of October 2018, there were 24 A-level scenic spots, 143 star-rated hotels and 311 travel agencies in Lhasa, said Tashi Dondrup, deputy director of the Lhasa tourism development bureau.

To attract more winter tourists, Tibet has rolled out a spate of preferential policies including waiving admission charges for some scenic spots and discounted flight tickets during winter.

The region received 2.46 million tourists last winter, up 84.2 percent year on year.

(Top image: The Potala Palace, Lhasa. /VCG Photo)

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency