Tibet tourism ‘hit record high’

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Title – Tibet tourism ‘hit record high’
Source – www.bbc.co.uk
Date – 17th December 2007

Once the last frontier of adventure travel, exploration and expeditions, Tibet became a favourite with backpackers and Gap Year travellers and is now teetering on the edge of becoming a mainstream tourist destination. With 4 million tourists visiting Tibet (a substantial increase will have come from Chinese tourists) each year, it can hardly be described as the final frontier of adventure travel any more.

But independent travellers should not be deterred, Tibet still has a lot to offer and will be a spectacular destination for anyone not having visited the Himalayas before. Anyone truly willing to put in the effort will still find untouched landscapes and hiking trails which the masses choose to ignore or don’t have the time or fitness levels to attempt.

Politically Tibet is sensitive, many are calling for the Chinese to leave and autonomy to be restored. Undoubtedly the Chinese influence is a negative and repressive one and one that threatens (some would say already has) to permanently ruin one of the countries greatest attractions; the spiritual heart beat which has survived centuries, but is critically threatened by Chinese 'development'. As long as his Holiness The Dalai Lama is exiled from his spiritual homeland, Tibet will be missing its heart beat.

Tibet is a perfect example of a country where tourists and travellers should choose where they spend their money wisely, support local Tibetan businesses when you choose your hotel, dinner, guides and choose authentic local crafts as gifts to take home rather then cheap Chinese imports.

We believe that every individual should be allowed to choose where they decide to travel to themselves, but that they should be informed of both politically sensitive areas, politically unstable areas, medically dangerous destinations and culturally sensitive destinations before they make their final choices. Our Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety and Awareness workshop provides candidates with comprehensive Destination Advice and safety tips specific to your destinations to allow you to make informed choices. Where we determine the destination to be unsuitable for safe independent travel we may refuse to offer advice, but this is determined before the booking process is completed.
Please visit our website at www.safegapyear.com