Tibet has experienced more than its fair share of misfortune this year.
Civil unrest last March led to a sharp drop in tourism, a trend which is bound to continue as a result of Monday’s powerful earthquake.
The number of tourists in Tibet was down by 69 percent in the first half of 2008 compared to the first part of 2007, with most of that drop happening after the March 14 Lhasa riots by anti-Chinese protesters.
The ensuing travel bans and a harsh crackdown on Buddhist monasteries brought tourism nearly to a standstill.
Even though six months have elapsed since the riots and the travel ban was lifted on May 1, visitors still seem reluctant to come to Tibet. Last week’s week-long National Day holiday, which traditionally brings hundreds of thousands of visitors from China, saw 36 percent fewer people than last year.
The Chinese government, which administers Tibet, has embarked on a PR campaign to revive the industry, while maintaining tight security over potentially volatile groups such as monks and students.
Now with Monday’s 6.6 magnitude earthquake, which struck an area 50 miles west of the capital, the future of tourism in Tibet is even shakier.
Though no major damage or widespread casualties were reported, quakes tend to be ruinous to the tourism industry even though they are relatively common in this part of Asia. For example, tourism has still not recovered in Sichuan province in China since it was hit by a powerful quake in May.
Links: Xinhua News Agency, Earthtimes, Associated Press, Xinhua
By Karen Elowitt for PeterGreenberg.com. Photo by Alison Wright.
Photographer Alison Wright’s newest slideshow includes some haunting portraits from Tibet. View them here.
