Tibet proposes duty-free shops

A senior Tibet tourism official and legislator is proposing to the country's top legislative conference to open three duty-free shops in the autonomous region and encourage domestic and overseas investments to create a "world tourism destination".

If the proposal is approved, Tibet would become the fourth provincial region in China, following Beijing, Shanghai and Hainan province, to offer duty-free benefits.

"The shops would improve our tourism environment, elevate service standards, create jobs and revenue, and promote the development of ethnic and local cultural products," Hongwei, deputy head of Tibet's tourism bureau and a deputy of National People's Congress, said on Tuesday.