Tibet today began to return to high season prices at tourism venues after a half-year discount, the Tibetan tourism authority said on Wednesday.

More than 430,000 tourists visited Tibet Autonomous Region since October 20 last year, when the region's tourism administration launched a price-cut campaign to lure travelers during the slack winter season.

Tourist arrivals, including 406,000 domestic and 24,000 from abroad, increased by 12 percent in the past six months as against the previous corresponding period.

The administration mobilized travel agencies, key scenic spots, hotels and ground transportation authorities to cut prices by half.

During the promotion period, the price of a four-day and five-night package tour from China's coastal province of Guangzhou dropped to 2,499 yuan (US$366) per person, covering two-way flight tickets, food and lodging, and tickets for tourist resorts in Tibet.

The price cut, the largest ever in Tibet, has helped the region to regain visitors after the March riot last year badly hurt tourism, the main industry fueling the region's economy.

The Nyingchi region received 24,000 sightseers in November, up 4.8 percent as against the same period of 2007, making it the first in Tibet to recover from the sluggish tourist market.

Tourism authority statistics show that tourist arrivals in Tibet hit nearly 2.25 million in 2008, generating revenue of 2.259 billion yuan, down 44.4 percent and 53.4 percent respectively from those of 2007.

As the busy season is coming, main tourist attractions in Tibet will gradually return to the normal ticket prices, according to Wang Songping, vice director with the tourism administration.

Jokhang Temple restored the 80-yuan price from 35 yuan Wednesday, but the Potala Palace still maintained the off-season price of 100 yuan, only half of the normal price.

In a bid to protect one of the city's iconic images, the government of Lhasa has set a height limit of 15 meters to constructions within a radius of 2 kilometers of the Potala Palace, to ensure that the view of the famous tourist attraction would not be blocked, according to a new layout of Lhasa, capital of Tibet.

Those buildings higher than the new standard will either be dismantled or cut short, according to the plan governing city construction for 2009 to 2020. The layout was ratified by the State Council last month.

(Xinhua News Agency April 23, 2009)