Domestic tourists rush to Tibet to spend the Labor Day golden week 2013

The number of visitors coming to Tibet keeps increasing with the coming of the Labor Day golden week 2013. To meet the demand of tourists planning to join the Tibet train tours, Tibet Tourism Bureau has opened the Mt. Everest tourist-dedicated train between Xining and Lhasa. There is a tourist-dedicated train head to Lhasa from Xining every four days. The Tibet tour operators in Tibet are also advertising their off-price tour products to both tourists at home and abroad.

It is reported that the propagandizing and popularizing of the off-price Tibet tour products aim at creating Tibet a good image. The opening of the Mt. Everest tourist-dedicated train will greatly consolidate and expand the Tibet tour market, and also cultivate the tourist market. Tour routes provide tourists the chance to explore the natural scenery and folk customs will be the choice for most of the tourists.

Tourists planning a Tibet tour in the Labor Day golden week should note that some scenic spots in Tibet will carry out the high season admission price. It is reported that the admission price of Potala Palace will rise to 200 RMB from 100 RMB and there will be strict restriction on the visiting time (only one hour) and number of visitors each day. Tourists have to spend 80 RMB for sightseeing in Tashilhunpo Monastery for about 1-2 hours in the high season though the entrance ticket is only 40 RMB in the shoulder season. The price of the admission ticket of Baksumtso Lake will also rise to 165 RMB from 60 RMB.

According to statistics, Potala Palace has received more than one million visitors since it was upgraded to a 5A class scenic spot. That number of visitors takes about 10 percent of the total visitors of all the scenic spots in Tibet. The period between May and October is the high season of Tibet tour and large number of tourists rushes to Lhasa during this period. For the protection of Potala Palace, the administrative office ruled that only 4000 visitors are allowed each day during the peak season. About 100 visitors could enter into Potala Palace for one hour sightseeing every 20 minutes.

There is also a series of scenic spots in Tibet planning to reduce the price of the admission ticket to attract more domestic tourists. According to Tibet Tourism Bureau, 18 scenic spots in Tibet will reduce the price of the entrance ticket during the Labor Day golden week, including the Lulang Forest Sea Scenic Area in Nyingchi Prefecture, Mangkhang Salt Well Scenic Area in Qamdo Prefecture and Ruin of Guge Kingdom in Ngari Prefecture. Besides, tourists planning to visit the Toling Monastery and Kekhor Monastery in Ngari Prefecture, Choma Lakhang in Shigatse Prefecture and Bonri Holy Mountain in Nyinchi Prefecture could also get certain discount in the admission ticket.

Tourists planning a Tibet tour in the Labor Day golden week are strongly suggested to book the train ticket in advance for a large number of domestic tourists would like to enter into Tibet by train. It would be a good choice to enter into Tibet by air and leave Tibet by train.