LHASA - Tourism revenue in Southwest China's Tibet autonomous region surged 30 percent in the first half of this year, thanks to a 26.7-percent increase in visitors to the region during the same period.

According to the plateau region's tourism authority, some 5.3 million people from China and overseas visited Tibet in the first six months of this year, up 26.7 percent from the same period a year ago.

Tourism revenue rose 30 percent to 5.3 billion yuan ($866 million) in the same period.

An 8.1-magnitude earthquake that struck Nepal in April and affected parts of Tibet has not made much of an impact on Tibet's tourism. Only two customs bordering Nepal are inaccessible, and other scenic spots have not been affected.