Tibet, back on tourist itinerary?
The roof of the world is back on the tourist itinerary with China reopening Tibet to foreign tourists three months after violent riots rocked this Himalayan region. A note on the tourism bureau’s web site announcing the lifting of the ban states ‘Tibet’s society is stable and harmonious, its markets bustling, and its environment beautiful.’ But there are still signs of nervousness and the Tibetan activists abroad are not a happy lot. The Chinese government had banned foreign tourists visiting Tibet following violent anti-government riots ahead of the Olympics in Lhasa and the nearby provinces, which have a predominantly Tibetan population. The restrictions were put, according to government officials, for the safety of foreign tourists and journalists. The Chinese reaction was swift with troops sent in to stifle the demonstration. They performed drills in town squares and set up checkpoints around sensitive areas including Buddhist monasteries, which were surrounded by security forces and closed off. Hundreds of suspected perpetrator have been arrested in the last three months, with many sentenced to years or life in prison in short trials for their role in the protests. Security agents carefully monitored the Olympic torch run through Lhasa and only a few handpicked foreign journalists, were invited to cover the event. According to the official Xinhua News Agency, Life in Lhasa had returned to normal, however despite the lifting of the ban, it’s still not clear how accessible Tibet really is given the fact that foreign visas to China are being restricted in the run-up to the Beijing Olympics.