Business keeps improving in Lhasa

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Source: CCTV.com | 04-07-2008 09:05

Windows are still broken and some shops remain scorched, but people in Lhasa are rebuilding their lives. Except for the lack of tourists, it's largely business as usual.

This is Beijing East Road, just a block away from the Potala Palace. If not for this evidence, you could hardly tell that this is one of the worst attacked places in Lhasa.

This is Beijing East Road, just a block away from the Potala Palace. If not for this evidence, you could hardly tell that this is one of the worst attacked places in Lhasa.

CCTV reporter Wang Xin said, "Three weeks after the riots in Lhasa, business is gradually returning to normal. You see vendors making sales. You see local residents coming out to buy daily necessities. This is still the busiest street in Lhasa."

Many of these commodities are what's left after the riots. And prices are much lower than usual. But bargaining goes on as usual, but the difference is, most of the shoppers are local. Tourists have yet to come.

Vendor Zhu Bin said, "We are expecting a better situation after May 1. If tourists come here in normal numbers, then we might have a good result this year."

At the largest supermarket in Lhasa, the situation is improving with each passing day.

A government notice issued early this week said Tibet would reopen to tourism next month. Before that, businesses will have to make do with local buying power.

At the largest supermarket in Lhasa, the situation is improving with each passing day. This lady said "it feels much better now than the week after March 14."

Qin Yi, manager of Baiyi supermarket, said, "The flow of consumers is on the rise. It is about 70 percent of that before March 14. Sales would reach 60 percent."

But to reach the figures before the riots, all hopes are now pinned to May 1, when tourists are supposed to come back in large numbers.

Editor:Zhang Ning