Dharamsala, September 22: China has banned foreign tourists from traveling to Tibet days ahead of the National Day parade in the capital to mark 60 years of Communist rule, reported the Associated Press citing an official.
Tan Lin, an official with the business administration office at the Tourism Bureau of Tibet, said foreign tourists would be banned from Tuesday onwards, but those who have already arrived would be allowed to stay, according to the AP.
A military parade through the heart of Beijing and a speech to the nation by President Hu Jintao are on the cards.
A female staffer at the International Grand Hotel in Tibet’s capital Lhasa said the ban will be in effect until Oct. 8.
China usually shuts down Tibet to foreign tourists and journalists ahead of politically sensitive events. Foreigners are free to travel to tourist destinations within Chinese inhabited regions but are required to obtain a special permission to travel to Tibet, which saw major spur of protests last year following the 10 March uprising anniversary.
