Beijing’s foreign tourism push in Tibet seen as economic, not response to political pressure
- Travel agencies welcome plan to boost visitor numbers and reduce waiting times to get permits for the remote, mountainous region
- Analysts say relaxation of restrictions reflects Chinese government’s confidence
Beijing’s decision to slash waiting times for foreign tourists applying to visit Tibet reflects the authorities’ confidence and was likely motivated by economic considerations rather than political pressure from Washington, analysts said.
Foreign access to the remote, mountainous western region is highly restricted for journalists, diplomats and researchers working on sensitive topics. Non-Chinese tourists need special permits and are only allowed to enter as part of an approved group tour.
In December, US President Donald Trump signed into law the Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act in a bid to press China to allow more access to Tibet. The new law authorises the US to identify Chinese officials responsible for blocking entry of American citizens to Tibet and ban those officials from entering the United States.
Kerry Brown, director of the Lau China Institute at King’s College London, said Beijing’s move was a “calculated risk” which “makes economic sense” for the largely deprived region that is rich in natural scenery.