Travel restrictions to Tibet have been further relaxed in a move which will give Australian travellers more flexibility when planning to join a group trip to the destination.
Until, laws imposed by the Chinese Government meant only a maximum of three nationalities could participate in each trip. But recent changes mean there are no longer any such nationality constraints.
G Adventures, which has been operating trips to Tibet for five years, welcomed the changes.
“In the past, we have sometimes had to disappoint travellers who were eager to visit Tibet because we were unable to obtain a permit for them due to there already being travellers of three other nationalities booked on the trip,” Australia and New Zealand head Belinda Ward said.
“For instance if an Australian traveller expressed an interest in joining a particular trip to Tibet, but travellers holding British, Canadian and Japanese passports had booked ahead of them, we would have to encourage them to look at another departure date.
“The beauty of G Adventures trips is you are surrounded by like-minded travellers from all over the world, and we are thrilled to now be able to offer this same experience in Tibet.”
Meanwhile, rival operator Intrepid reported a “notable difference” in travel to the destination.
“We have found that this year is has been much easier for passengers to obtain a Tibet permit compared to previous years and as a result our numbers on trips that travel to Tibet are thriving,” a spokesperson said.
“Intrepid sales to Tibet are already up by 52% in 2014 compared to total numbers in 2013, and we’re only just half way through the year.”
