Explorative tour increases Tibetans' income

The Tibetan guy, Pasang is bargaining with some foreign tourists in English for hiring the carriage at a tourist-inhabitated place, 4 kilometers away from the 5,200-meter Qomolangma Base Camp. Finally, the two foreign tourists hire Pasang's carriage with 50 yuan (about 6.25 US dollars) to go to the Qomolangma Base Camp.

Pasang says that he can earn more than 100 yuan (about 12.5 US dollars) by transporting tourists to the Qomolangma Base Camp 4 times every day as it is the best time for climing the Qomolangma.

In Tashizong Village of Tingri County at the foot of the Qomolangma, there are hundreds of farmers and herders dealing with offering service to tourists and expeditioners. They run Tibetan characteristic family hotels, sell travel souvenirs and transport material for the climbers. It is the main method for them to gain cash income.

The Tashizong Village is the nearest village to the Qomolangma and locals are mainly engaged in agriculture and stock raising industry. Since 2,000, lots of travellers flock to Tashizong Village in spring and autumn for further journey to the Qomolangma. More and more locals understand that the Qomolangma will help them earn money.

Samdrup, a liaison officer of the Qomolangma Base Camp says that since the end of this March, over 500 locals and 1,000 yaks have participated in transporting service for the coming tourists with a total income of 500,000 yuan (about 62,500 US dollars).

Every mountaineering season, local farmers and herders gather near the Qomolangma Base Camp to serve the coming mountaineers and tourists until end of May. In all, Tashizong villagers have earned about 3 million yuan (about 0.375 million US dollars) by offering service to the explorative tourists and mountaineers.