Tibet hosts 14m tourists in first 8 months

Tibet in southwest China has welcomed 14.3 million tourists in the first eight months of 2015.

This generated 19 billion yuan ( 3 billion U.S. dollars) in tourism revenue, according to the Tourism Development Commission of Tibet Autonomous Region.

The May to October period is high tourism season for Tibet, and a big influx of visitors is expected during the week-long National Day holiday which begins on Oct. 1.

Tibet will hold its second tourism and culture expo from Monday to Wednesday. Representatives of companies from countries like India and Nepal as well as other provinces of China will attend the event.

Tourism is a pillar industry in Tibet, with revenue accounting for about one fifth of the region's GDP. The region aims to attract 17 million tourists this year.