China has launched a 15-year plan to turn Tibet into one of the world's leading tourist destinations.
  
The Tibet Tourism Development Plan would vigorously promote the Chinese autonomous region, known as "the roof of the world" for its mountainous terrain, to boost its economy and start the region's "urbanisation", according to the Xinhua news agency.
  
Tibet would attract 2.48 million domestic and foreign visitors a year by 2010, generating the equivalent of about $NZ663 million in revenue or 10% of its local economy, the report said.
  
By 2020, 10.17 million visitors are expected, with revenues soaring to well over $NZ2.6 billion.
  
Tibet at present attracts just over one million tourists a year, most of them from within China.
  
"Tibet will focus on developing inbound tourism and domestic tourism in order to establish it as an important tourism centre between China and Asia as well as a world famous high plateau tourism destination," Xinhua said.
  
Tourism has emerged lately as an increasingly important industry in Tibet, helping raise incomes for its needy population.
  
Tibet Autonomous Region vice chairman Losang Jamcan said tourism would also "promote urbanisation and infrastructure construction", as well as helping the impoverished area protect its cultural heritage and environment.
  
China invaded the land-locked nation in 1950, forcing Tibet's political and spiritual leader the Dalai Lama into exile in 1959 .
  
It destroyed many temples and monasteries as they were seen as superstitious by the communist rulers, according to Agence France Presse.
  
Tibet officials have indicated that the return of the Dalai Lama would boost tourism from Western nations and attract Tibetan Buddhist pilgrims from across China.
  
But any return appears unlikely with Beijing viewing him as intent on separating Tibet from China, AFP added.
  
Tibetan capital Lhasa has been a major administrative centre as long ago as the seventh century AD; Songtsen Gampo, a chief in the Yarlung Valley, moved to Lhasa and built a palace there.
  
The region has spectacular mountain scenery, and is bordered to the south by India, Nepal and Bhutan.
  
Mount Everest is on the southern mountain wall of Tibet; its Tibetan name is Quomolangma, meaning the Mother Goddess.
  
The world's highest mountain at 8848.13m is surrounded by other snow-capped peaks - four of them over 8,000m and 38 over 7,000m - plus glaciers, caves and icy rivers.
  
Ka-erh in western Tibet is believed to be the highest town in the world, 4,570m up in the Himalayas.
  
Travel experts say the best time of year to be in Tibet is between May and early November, after which temperatures start to fall to uncomfortable levels.
  
Lhasa and Shigatse may have mild weather between May and November although July and August can be wet.
  
Tibet stages many festivals during the year.
  
They include the Year End Festival (February-March) held to dispel the evil of the old year and auspiciously usher in the new one, followed by the Losar New Year Festival.
  
Among others are the Tsurphu Dance Festival (May-June), the Gyantse Horse Racing Festival in June which also features dances, picnics and archery; the Chokor Duchen Festival in Lhasa around August-September marking Buddha's first sermon at Sarnath, and Lhapab Duchen (November-December) commemorates Buddha's descent from Heaven.