By China Bureau Chief Maria Siow in Tibet
More tourists are visiting Tibet, a place once totally inaccessible to even people from China.
The number of foreigners is expected to increase by five per cent every year and twice that number for those from China.
However, there are many who worry the influx of tourists and efforts to develop the region may dilute the region’s traditions and identity.
Stalls selling trinkets and souvenirs to tourists are everywhere in provincial capital Lhasa.
They are perhaps a simple indication of the booming tourism industry in Tibet, especially since such stalls were nowhere to be found just a couple of years ago.
But much has changed.
In 2002 alone, Tibet saw over 700,000 visitors – a far cry from just eight years ago, when hardly any tourist can be found, not even in Lhasa.
For many locals, more tourists mean more jobs, greater investment in basic infrastructure, and restoration of cultural relics.
But others fear the flood of tourists, whom they say have little understanding of the esoteric form of Buddhism that pervades Tibetan life.
Tourism, they argue, may alter the region’s traditional lifestyle in the long term.
A charge that has also been hurled at the Chinese authorities by exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.
He had argued that the spirituality of Tibet might be undermined, even threatened.
Despite being reviled by Beijing, the Dalai Lama still enjoys a strong following among Tibetans, many of whom consider him their leader and a living God.
But others would beg to differ.
“We will open up Tibet more widely to the outside world as it wasn’t opened wide enough in the past. Religious freedom doesn’t mean that Tibetans have full confidence in the Dalai Lama,” said Guo Jinlong, Party Secretary, Tibet Autonomous Region.
Beijing continues to regard the Dalai Lama as a separatist, saying there can be no discussion unless he declares that both Tibet and Taiwan are inseparable parts of China.
Formal contact between the Dalai Lama and Beijing officials was discontinued in 1993, but there are still informal ties.
Even though the authorities made it clear that the Dalai Lama cannot be considered a religious figure, it is not illegal or against the law for ordinary Tibetans, and even nuns and lamas, to display photos of the Dalai Lama in their private homes.
With greater economic growth, observers say Beijing can be expected to exert an even greater influence over Tibet.
And with even more economic and political leverage, many believe that there is no doubt over Beijing’s claim and absolute control over Tibet.
