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As much as 18 million yuan (2.17 million US dollars) was added to the income of farmers and herdsmen in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region in 2002.

The tourist industry last year provided jobs for an additional 5,267 people in the region, according to a recent conference on the tourism sector.

Villagers of Sangmu, in the regional capital of Lhasa, reaped as much as 70,000 yuan (some 8,400 dollars) in income, in less than one year, by cooperating with a tourism agency to attract people to experience the country life. Thus, the per capita income for the locals rose to more than 2,000 yuan (some 240 dollars) in 2002.

The Linzhi prefecture gives full play to its rich natural resources by setting up several ecological sightseeing spots, which brought in 82,300 yuan (some 9,910 dollars) in income by luring more than 6,000 domestic and overseas tourists in 2002.

Peasants in the Rikaze prefecture are encouraged to offer accommodation and food to visitors and mountaineers of Qomolangma Peak, earning nearly 50,000 yuan (some 6,020 dollars) of net income a year.

Official statistics show that the per capita income for peasants and herdsmen in Tibet reached 1,570 yuan (189 dollars) in 2002.

Zhang Wansheng, director of the local tourism bureau, said the involvement of rural people in the tourism sector bears fruit as it combines the managing and administrative expertise of tourism agencies and the rich rural tourism resources with the abundant but low-cost countryside labor.