Tibet sees 80,000 tourists daily during holiday

LHASA - Tibet Autonomous Region in southwest China is expected to receive a daily average of 80,000 tourists during the ongoing National Day holiday, local tourism authorities said.

Tourists visiting from September 30 to October 7 will bring estimated revenues of 30 million yuan (4.7 million U.S. dollars) per day to the region, according to a press release issued by the region's tourism bureau on Saturday.

It said more than 79,000 domestic and foreign tourists visited Tibet on Friday, up 24 percent year on year. Tourism revenues for the day jumped up more than 33 percent year on year to 35 million yuan, the press release said.

More self-drive tours and bike tours have also been seen this year, it said.

Tibet on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau is emerging as one of the most popular travel destinations in China, particularly after more air and railway links were opened to make the high-altitude region more accessible for tourists.

More than 430,000 people visited Tibet during last year's autumn holiday season, bringing 173 million yuan in tourism revenues.