Weeks after China closed Tibet's borders to foreign tourists in the wake of self-immolation protests, most foreign tourists are once again being permitted entry into the autonomous region.
Authorities have resumed the issuing of Tibetan visas for certain tourist areas, however, travellers from the UK, South Korea, Australia and Norway will be refused the entry visas, according to local tourism companies.
According to some reports, foreign visitors are now required to travel in groups of five or more – all of the same nationality.
Although very little information from the Chinese authorities has been made public, bloggers and other social media users have been sharing the latest information on the situation.
Rishi, of Nepal Helpful Information posted on Trekinfo.com, “Pleased to tell you that Tibet is going to re-open. However, until further notice, permits for tourists from Norway, South Korea, UK and Australia is still difficult so you are kindly requested to avoid the area.”
Due to the unpredictability of the situation, travellers are advised to ensure that any bookings made to the region are fully refundable.
The Tibet Tourism Bureau never acknowledged this month's tourist ban in the first place, but local tour operators and hotels in Lhasa told media outlets that travel permits were no longer being issued for foreign tourists.