From the end of last year, tourists from Hong Kong and Macau no longer need 'identity confirmation letters' when travelling in Tibet. There was also an ending of the requirement that foreigners must travel in a group of five or more, reported Xinhua.
Tibet received 850,000 visitors in 2002, up by nearly a quarter on the previous year, said the local tourism bureau. Domestic tourist numbers were up 29 per cent to 720,000, while foreign visitors rose just 2.4 per cent to 130,000. Tourism revenue amounted to US$168m in 2002.