Tibet offers winter deals to visitors

Southwestern China's Tibet autonomous region has launched a series of favorable tourism policies to draw travelers to enjoy its winter charms from Nov 1 to March 15.

All State-owned scenic spots rated AAA or higher (AAAAA is the highest rank) are admission-free during the period. Those under AAA and private attractions will offer tickets at half of the offseason prices, says Wang Songping, Tibet's tourism development commission's director.

All star-rated, international and boutique hotels in Tibet, and various air routes to the region, will reduce rates by at least half compared with the peak season, Wang says.

Businesses organizing group tours to Tibet via chartered flights and special tourism trains will be rewarded with monetary incentives.

Tibet enjoys sunny days and starry nights in winter. Many people visit its capital, Lhasa, to see the more than 130 bird species that inhabit the area during the season, Tibet's tourism authority reports. And many folk festivals and Buddhist celebrations also take place during the colder months.

About 2.67 million domestic travelers visited Tibet between January and April, a year-on-year increase of more than 63 percent compared with 2017. Total tourism revenues also increased by nearly 63 percent to exceed 3.5 billion yuan ($504.6 million).