Ngari Prefecture in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region is expecting this year to host 100,000 tourists ten times more than in the past.

Doje Cering, secretary of the Ngari Prefectural Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), told the Beijing's based "China's Tibet" magazine that his prefecture has decided the year 2002 will be the year of tourism.

Many Buddhist believers will make the pilgrimage to Mount Kangrinboqe as this year is the year of the iron horse according to Tibetan calendar and the Mountain God Kangrinboqe's birthday also falls this year.

Ngari, which has an average sea level of over 4,500 meters, has a total area of 345,000 sq km. Despite having some tourism resources, the prefecture is one of China's poorest areas.

A great number of activities will be organized to entertain tourists mainly from May through to August, said the Party secretary, who also emphasized that the prefecture would also make a good use of this festival to showcase the great achievements Ngari has made in the past decades.

Special websites have also been launched at http:www.xiangxong.com. and www.ali.gov.com. to publicize the tourism festival.

Doje Cering has pledged to seize chances created by the country's campaign to explore the vast west, and the challenges brought by China's entry into the World Trade Organization. He also hopes to develop Ngari's economy further keeping the extreme local conditions in mind.

( People's Daily May 23, 2002)