The Chinese side of Mount Qomolangma received 13,764 international tourists in 2024, mainly from Singapore, Malaysia, Germany and France, according to the culture and tourism bureau of Dingri county in the Xizang autonomous region.
The number of tourists in 2024 more than doubled from the previous year, an indication of the increased international tourism following China's relaxation of visa policies, Xinhua News Agency reported.
In 2024, Dingri's tourism revenue reached approximately 420 million yuan ($57.3 million), marking a 10.3 percent year-on-year growth, the bureau said.
Renowned for its unparalleled beauty, Mount Qomolangma, known as Mount Everest in the West, is the tallest mountain on Earth. Dingri county in Xizang has capitalized on the mountain's fame with the Qomolangma Scenic Area.
With the tourism increase, the community has found prosperity through the scenic area, with locals like Chodan, who returned to her hometown after graduating from university to start a tourism business.
She began renting tents to tourists at the Qomolangma Base Camp in 2022 and later expanded her business to establish a guesthouse within the scenic area, earning nearly 500,000 yuan in 2024.
The scenic area features 91 hotels and guesthouses, accommodating more than 2,800 daily visitors, according to the county authority.