[Photo provided to China Daily]

A program aimed at reviewing the development of tourism in western Tibet autonomous region over the past 40 years kicked off in Nyingchi in early July.

The five-day event was held by the Tibet tourism development commission and gathered together tourism officials, experts and travel agencies from around the region to draw on past experiences to help plan for the future.

As part of the program, participants will visit local tourism spots to study the changing patterns in tourism development.

Towering mountain peaks, Tibetan Buddhism, mystical local culture and local lifestyle are all highlights that draw in visitors to the autonomous region, says Sun Xiaorong, a member of the national tourism reform and development advisory committee.

Tibet should develop and preserve its ecology, tap into its unique culture and improve transportation and tourism services to enrich its experience for travelers, Sun says.

Visitor numbers broke 20 million in 2015, and the regional government is striving to bring that figure up to 30 million this year, says Wang Songping, director of the Tibet tourism commission.