Growing up near Nam Co Lake in central Xizang autonomous region, Paldan Drolma knew of the folklore about the lake and the varying shades of its water.

So when she graduated from Xizang University five years ago with a degree in tourism management, she seized the opportunity to become a tour guide at the scenic attraction.

"I am naturally outgoing and simply enjoy connecting with people," said the 27-year-old woman. "Through this job, I get to introduce visitors to my hometown's beautiful landscapes, and I take pride in my work."

In recent years, the lake's growing tourism industry has created jobs for more than 1,000 local residents like Drolma.

Nam Co is nestled between Damshung county in Lhasa and Palgon county in Nagchu city. At an elevation of 4,718 meters, it covers more than 5,180 square kilometers and is renowned for its bright blue hues, earning it the nickname "the blue pearl of Xizang".

Zhang Longquan, chairman of the company managing the lake's environmental protection and development, said 85 percent of the scenic area's staff — including forest rangers, tour guides, drivers, security guards and sanitation workers — are from local villages.

"For example, some local herders now earn extra income by renting their yaks and horses to tourists for riding experiences, in addition to their traditional livestock revenues," Zhang said. "We've also set up an exhibition and sales zone at the tourist service center to showcase local artisans' crafts and help them expand their income sources."

Wang Yong, deputy director of Damshung county's culture and tourism bureau, said 6 million yuan ($836,000) generated from the scenic area's annual revenue is allocated to local residents.

"Based on visitor numbers, we also distribute 5 yuan per visitor to locals by the end of each year. The goal is to share tourism benefits with the entire community," he said.

With the ongoing summer travel season, Nam Co is preparing for a tourist peak. The lake is expected to receive 450,000 visitors this year, with revenue projected to exceed 80 million yuan.

"An estimated 5,000 locals will increase their income by nearly 50 million yuan in total this year through lake tourism," Zhang said.

While benefiting local communities, the lake's development also prioritizes environmental protection, Zhang said.

In recent years, the scenic spot has introduced new energy shuttle buses, installed biodegradable and eco-friendly toilets, and assigned personnel for daily waste removal and regular water quality testing to minimize environmental impact.

"We've designated core conservation zones where tourism is strictly prohibited and capped visitor numbers in accessible areas," Zhang said.

Drolma noted that as a likely result of climate change and glacial melting, the water from Nam Co tastes less salty than it did in her childhood years. But the most noticeable change in recent years, she said, has been the cleanliness in the area surrounding the lake.

"Before, litter used to be scattered on the shore and tourists would pitch tents randomly," she said. "Now, with better management, the ecosystem keeps improving, and as locals, we benefit from the extra income too."