Tibet Autonomous Region authorities said on Monday they will hold a forum to seek ideas to revive the region's tourism sector, which has been severely hit by the March 14 riot.

A Tibet Tourism Bureau official said the forum scheduled for Saturday in the regional capital, Lhasa, would host more than 100 experts, scholars and domestic travel agency managers.

In the first half, the region saw 340,000 tourist arrivals, down 69 percent from the same period last year.

Tourism almost came to a standstill after the March 14 violence, which led to the deaths of at least 18 civilians and one policeman, with businesses looted and residences, shops and vehicles torched.

The region re-opened to domestic tour groups on April 24, followed by visitors from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan in May and foreign tour groups from June 25.

The regional government has been struggling to boost the industry through incentive subsidies and bonuses.

Gyangkar, the Lhasa City Tourism Bureau chief, said last week the city government had set aside 1 million yuan (US$142,857) in the hope of reviving tourism.

Under the scheme, which runs from Aug. 15 to Dec. 30, a travel agency can get 50,000 yuan for organizing a charter flight with at least 100 overseas tourists or for organizing a 600-person train tour.

(Xinhua News Agency August 26, 2008)