Southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region will strive to increase the income of the rural population through the promotion of the rural tourism in the 12th Five-Year Plan period (2011-2015), according to the region's tourism administrative bureau.

Tibet will endeavor to develop distinctive tourism resources by promoting 5 counties, 20 towns and 1,000 villages by 2015, expecting to engage 150,000 rural people in tourism industry.

In the past five years, Tibet has received altogether 21.25 million domestic and foreign tourists, with an average annual growth rate of 30.6%. The total tourism revenue hit 22.62 billion yuan, growing at an average rate of 29.8% annually.

The region's tourism administrative bureau says various rural tourism programs will be developed, such as family hotels and herder's home. Besides, businesses and individuals involved in rural tourism programs will enjoy tax reduction and exemption benefits.

China Tibet Online