A Tibetan visitor stands beside a huge urn while offering prayers near Namtso Lake in Tibet Autonomous Region July 6, 2006. Namtso Lake, which means sacred or heaven lake in Tibetan, is 4,718 metres (15,479 feet) above sea level and is the second largest salt-water lake in China next to Qinghai Lake.  [Reuters]

Of the 2.8 million people in Tibet, 92 percent are of Tibetan ethnic group, 5 percent are Hans and the rest are from other ethnic groups, Qiangba said.

"Their custom and traditional festivals remain unchanged even after millions of tourists have been there the region following the central government's massive investment in the region," said the official.

The TAR is also considering allocating hundreds of millions of yuan for maintenance and renovation of world heritage sites and major cultural relics in the region in the next five years, the official said.