Beijing, June 21 – Tibet will begin accepting foreign and domestic tour groups from July 1, after a two-month-long break forced by the Sars virus, state media said today.
Authorities made the decision after they deemed the national effort to control Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) had been successful, Xinhua news agency reported.
Tour groups have been prevented from visiting the Himalayan region since April 25, shortly after the Chinese government decided to come clean on the extent of the Sars epidemic.
Tibet itself seems to have been spared the virus, with no reports to date of either confirmed or suspected cases, Xinhua said.
Although the Tibetan tourism industry can now prepare to get back to business, some precautions will still be enforced, according to the agency.
Travel agencies will not be allowed to arrange tours to pastoral or agricultural areas, large-scale entertainment will not be allowed, and tour groups can only dine at designated restaurants.
