30 June 2006
Potala daily entry quota increased
(Xinhua) The Potala Palace in Lhasa will raise its daily entry quota from 1,500 to 2,300 as a result of the Golmud-Lhasa railway going into operation, Chinese officials said. However, many tourists will still be denied entry despite the increase, said Nyima Tsering, head of the regional department of cultural relics. The new limit was set after consultations between tourism and cultural relics protection authorities, said Nyima Tsering. "A limit on entry is necessary for the protection of the Potala Palace", the official said. He attributed the increase of the quota to the maintenance efforts on the World Heritage site in recent years.