Improved accessibility

According to the department's planning office, regional authorities helped more than 44,700 people find tourism-related jobs in the first half of the year, and the combined incomes of rural residents engaged in the sector hit 409 million yuan.

As a pillar industry, and one that contributes greatly to Tibet's GDP, the region expects to see about 40 million tourist visits this year.

Meanwhile, authorities are also making efforts to provide more convenient and friendly services, in addition to significantly improving accessibility for visitors.

"We have been making great efforts on the management and standardization of scenic spots. As the functions of tourist spots have improved greatly in recent years, we have seen a rise in the number of tourists visiting the region," said Liang Chunyin, head of the department's industry development office.

"The introduction of smart scenic spots is another project we have undertaken - using high-tech measures to improve the quality of tourism in the region. We recently signed a deal with AutoNavi Software Co, also known as Gaode Map, to launch an app called the Tibet Touring Map.

"Since 2016, we have been working to upgrade the quality of the region's tourist attractions. At present, Tibet has 116 A-Class tourist attractions: four 5A-Class attractions (the highest level); 12 4A-Class attractions; and 100 3A-Class attractions."