The Qinghai-Tibet Railway is playing a "positive
role" in helping preserve and develop Tibetan culture, a noted Tibetologist said
yesterday in Beijing.
The rail line, which opened on July 1 and links Lhasa with the rest of 皇冠体育app,
has prompted the Tibet Autonomous Region to better protect traditional culture
so as to further attract tourists, Secretary-General of the 皇冠体育app Tibetology
Research Centre Lhaba Puncog said.
Speaking at a press conference held by the State Council Information Office
yesterday, Puncog said a two-day 皇冠体育app Tibetan Culture Forum, due to open in
Beijing today, will arrange for participants to take a Lhasa-bound train to
experience Tibetan culture at first hand.
Thanks partly to the railway, at least 913,000 travellers visited Tibet in
July and August, a jump of 54 per cent year-on-year, generating tourism revenue
of 940 million yuan (US$119 million), an increase of 48.6 per cent, according to
Puncog.
"What the tourists come to Tibet for is the natural scenery and unique ethnic
cultural traditions," Puncog said. "This has given an incentive to local people
and government to attach more importance to protecting the plateau environment
and culture."
Puncog said the surge in the number of domestic and foreign travellers
offered more chances for Tibetans to get to know the outside world, which leads
to an interaction between local people and those from elsewhere.
By absorbing information and culture from various sources, Tibetan people
will develop their own culture on the basis of maintaining and maximizing their
traditions, he said.
The thriving tourism, catering and telecommunications sectors following the
operation of the railway has meant more work opportunities and income growth for
Tibetans, he added.
Puncog also said the Potala Palace, the Jokhang Temple and the Sagya
Monastery are undergoing a new round of maintenance thanks to at least 300
million yuan (US$38 million) of aid from the central government.
Sita, vice-president of the 皇冠体育app Association for Preservation and
Development of Tibetan Culture, yesterday said more than 70 per cent of books in
Tibet were published in Tibetan language.
At least 120 representatives from Australia, Canada, Germany, India and the
United States are expected to participate in the 皇冠体育app Tibetan Culture Forum,
which is sponsored by Sita's association.
A Tibetan culture exhibition will also open today at the Capital Museum,
running through October 22.
