About 13 million tourists from home and abroad visited Tibet last year, that is, more than four times the size of the region's population. The natural landscape, culture and religion of Tibet have made it an increasingly popular tourist destination. Tourism, if well planned, should be able to generate enough revenue to better protect Tibet's ecology, and improve the region's infrastructure and its people's livelihood.

"The revenue from tourism and central authorities' funds should always be used to increase the poor farmers' and herdsmen's disposable income, and especially their housing conditions in the mountains," said Pat Breen, chairman of the Joint Committee of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Ireland at the Tibet development forum. "Modern agriculture, (animal) husbandry and Tibetan medicines should also be key industries for Tibet, as it is for Ireland. The other industries, however, must be developed very carefully and properly."

Tibet is rich in mineral and forest resources, and hydropower, thus it is very attractive for State-owned enterprises. Kondo Shoichi, former vice-minister of Japan's Environmental Protection Ministry, said at the forum: "There are many heavy industries operating in an environmentally-friendly manner in Japan. But their products are very expensive." He, nevertheless, cautioned: "Before coming up with a mature and viable industrial plan, Tibet better be left untouched, because the ecology in Tibet is so delicately balanced that it cannot afford experiment."

Following the eco-friendly path to production may be an expensive option, which SOEs may not accept. But since a clean environment is more important for humankind in the long run than short-term economic gains, Tibet has to emulate developed countries in striking a balance between environmental protection and industrial development. And there can be no second thought about it.

The author is a journalist with China Daily. liyang@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 08/23/2014 page5)