LHASA, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- Southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region received over 70.73 million tourist visits in 2025, marking a 10.71 percent year-on-year increase, with inbound tourists surging 36.5 percent to 437,400, the regional culture and tourism department announced Saturday.

The year also saw a significant enrichment of tourism products in Xizang. The output value of the cultural industry rose to 15.01 billion yuan (about 2.15 billion U.S. dollars), up 35.29 percent, while total tourism revenue reached 81.68 billion yuan, growing by 9.51 percent.

This sustained development is underpinned by continuous efforts to preserve and utilize the region's cultural resources. In the fourth national census of cultural relics, Xizang has newly identified 3,346 heritage sites, ranking among the top regions nationwide for new discoveries.

Since the launch of a regional tourism resource survey in 2023, over 31,000 new tourist resources have been cataloged across Xizang. Traditional folk activities such as the Guozhuang dance, a Tibetan dance, and bull-hide boat competitions have gained popularity, attracting tourists eager to experience local culture.

To preserve and promote its cultural heritage, including ancient architecture, cultural relics and intangible cultural heritage, the regional authorities are actively utilizing digital platforms. These platforms, some of which focus on iconic sites such as the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Potala Palace, have recorded over 2.5 million cumulative visits.  ■