The Tibet Autonomous Region in Southwest China received 100,733 tourists from home and abroad in the first three months this year, 1.8 percent more than that for the same period of last year.

They included 3,274 overseas tourists, up 2 percent over last year's same period, and 97,459 domestic tourists, a rise of 1.8 percent year on year, according to the Tibet Autonomous Regional Tourism Administration.

The region's tourism income reached 90.34 million yuan (11.29 million U.S. dollars), up 1.6 percent over the corresponding period of last year.

With the Qinghai-Tibet railway going into trial operation in July and the operation of Nyingchi airport, Tibet is expecting more tourists this year, said Deng Zhu, head of the regional tourism administration.

Tibet expects to host more than 2.5 million tourists this year,40 percent more than last year, Deng said.

Tibet welcomed 1.8 million tourists last year, registering an income of 1.93 billion yuan.

xinhua