China Bans Travel to Tibet

Source: New York Times

BEIJING — China has stopped issuing travel documents to foreigners seeking to visit Tibet, according to local tour operators, another indicator of the government’s skittishness over the coming anniversary of the Communist victory in 1949.

The ban on new permits, which took effect on Monday, will last at least three weeks, travel agents say.

This is the third time foreign travel to Tibet has been halted since March 2008, when rioting killed at least 22 people in Lhasa, the Tibetan capital, and left a swath of its central business district in flames.

Tour operators who arrange the paperwork said the new regulations were issued on Sunday by the region’s tourism bureau without explanation. They said that foreigners already holding permits would be allowed to travel to Tibet but that restrictions would be placed on their movement, including requirements that they travel only with guides and stay in government-approved hotels. Tour operators said they were told the ban on new permits would remain in effect until at least Oct. 8.

Yong Hong, deputy sales manager at Xigaze China International Travel Service in Lhasa, said the new rules were unexpected and not particularly welcome. “It was a sudden thing, but this year is unusual,” he said, referring to the Oct. 1 National Day celebrations marking the founding of the People’s Republic.



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/23/world/asia/23tibet.html?hp

their people and culture.

I suggest they read this article.

and tell you that the Tibetans are "better off" under the Chinese government or some other paternalistic bullshit.