China
tightens controls on foreign tourists in Tibet
BEIJING,
March 30 (AFP) - China
has introduced new restrictions on foreigners travelling to Tibet as the
region prepares to mark yet another sensitive anniversary, sources said
Tuesday.Foreigners visiting the Tibetan capital of Lhasa are now required to
be "escorted" at all times by an officially approved "tour guide", regardless
of whether or not they are part of an organized tour, a Beijing-based travel
agent told AFP."Even if you don't want to visit any scenic
spots, we will have to send a guide to follow you wherever you go," the
agent said, adding the new measures were in place to ensure that visitors
did not "make trouble for China."A spokeswoman for the foreign
affairs office in Lhasa confirmed regulation changes had been made this
year, but refused to comment on why they had been introduced.Previously,
foreigners who visited Tibet had to be organized into administrative "tour
groups", which often disbanded as soon as they arrived in Lhasa.Tourists
for the most part were free to move througout the city, requiring special
permits only to visit outlying areas."These regulations are new,"
confirmed Kate Saunders of the London-based Tibet Information Network."We have received reports this year of travellers wishing to travel
on their own being forced into groups during their stay. Travel agencies
have also been informed of the policy changes," she added.
China's
communist party had ordered a tightening of security in Tibet through March,
as the 40th anniversary of a violent insurrection that led to the Dalai
Lama's exile and the 10th anniversary of the declaration of martial law
in Lhasa were observed.
Foreign
tourists in Lhasa during the anniversaries reported a tense atmosphere
throughout the city, while police conducted door-to-door identification
checks of all tourists staying in local hotels."In order to protect
the safety of foreign guests, sometimes we have to give guidance and tell
people not to go out alone and to stay with their tour group," a foreign
affairs office official, who refused to be identified, said earlier this
month.Wednesday will mark the 40th anniversary of the Dalai Lama's
arrival in India, where he later set up his government-in-exile in the
northern hill town of Dharamsala.But according to the Lhasa Tourism
Bureau, the new regulations have been put into place simply to combat "problems
of traffic" and are unrelated to social issues.
"Tibet's
scenic spots are scattered all around and queues at these tourist venues
are very long. Having tour groups and tour buses is for travellers' convenience,"
the official, surnamed Fang, told AFP.
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