[Photo by Palden Nyima/China Daily]

The new KFC also appeals to tourists, Chen said. Last year, Tibet recorded visits from 20 million tourists, a 29 percent rise from the previous year. It expects to attract 30 million by the end of 2020.

Currently, the outlet recruits 40 employees, half of them from Tibet, including eight ethnic Tibetans, Yu said.

"Recruitment is continuing," Yu said. "Eventually, we hope the ratio between local ethnic Tibetan employees and non-Tibetans is even."

In 2004, KFC shelved plans to open in Tibet, saying it was not "economically feasible", according to Reuters. But spending power has continued to increase. Tibet's GDP hit 102.6 billion yuan in 2015, maintaining double-digit growth since 1994.

KFC, which entered China in 1987, now has more than 5,000 outlets on the Chinese mainland.

Xinhua contributed to this story.

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