Tourists pose for photos in front of the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet, on Wednesday. [Photo by Palden Nyima/For chinadaily.com.cn]

During the Spring Festival holiday this year, Lhasa, Tibet autonomous region, received nearly 287,000 tourist visits, an increase of 18.8 percent year-on-year, Tibet Daily reported.

During the same period, tourism revenues exceeded 285 million yuan ($42 million), up 15.8 percent year-on-year, according to the city's tourism development bureau.

The regions tourism development department released a statement in late December, launching a new round of its Winter Tour Campaign on Jan 1 to attract more tourists to the region in winter. The campaign will continue until March 15.

Tibet is a famous destination for tourists from around the world, but it sees fewer visitors during the winter months. Tourism-related businesses have been closed for months in the past.

Tourists pose for photos in front of the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet, on Wednesday. [Photo by Palden Nyima/For chinadaily.com.cn]

The regional Department of Tourism Development has conducted winter tourism campaigns since February 2018 to attract more tourists. It has been offering free entry to most scenic spots, with off-season winter prices on star-rated hotels and flights.

Except for some key monasteries and temples, all scenic spots including the Potala Palace in Lhasa and other scenic sites in the region are offering free entry during the campaign.

Tang Yan, a tourist from Sichuan province, visited the region for the first time in the last three days and said she enjoyed the trip. She said she was most impressed with the strong atmosphere of Buddhist culture.

"I visited the Potala Palace, the Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street, and Namtso Lake in the last three days, and all of them offered free entry except for Jokhang Temple," Tang said.

"Besides the beautiful plateau landscapes, I am more interested with the Tibetan Buddhist culture, and I hope to learn more about it before I leave."

Tourists and local residents visit Drepung Monastery in Lhasa, Tibet, on Wednesday. [Photo by Palden Nyima/For chinadaily.com.cn]

A view of the Potala Palace — a World Heritage site — in Lhasa, Tibet, on Wednesday. [Photo by Palden Nyima/For chinadaily.com.cn]

A view of the Potala Palace — a World Heritage site — in Lhasa, Tibet, on Wednesday. [Photo by Palden Nyima/For chinadaily.com.cn]