Source: CCTV.com

03-29-2008 13:35

Special Report:   3.14 Tibet Riots

Recent unrests in Lhasa damaged around 900 shops. After two weeks, 80 percent of these shops are now up and running again.

Recent unrests in Lhasa damaged around 900 shops. After two weeks, 80 percent of these shops are now up and  running again.  (CCTV.com)

This is the Bai Yi supermarket, located along one of the main commercial streets of Lhasa. It was the shop that was hit hardest by the riots two weeks ago, with over 900 thousand yuan in damages. But after days of repair, the shop is now again, open for business.

Li Zhongju, Consumer, said, "It is really amazing that the shop has opened again within such a short period of time."

Wei Dingli, Manager of Property Dept., Bai Yi Group, said, "Many residents in the nearby communities come here to shop because we have good service and a variety of affordable products. And we have made great efforts to resume operation."

The Red Flag supermarket, located along another commercial street, has also resumed business, even though the burnt shop sign still hangs in front of the store.

Wei Rongjia, Manager of First Branch, Red Flag Supermarket, said, "We are fully confident of the market, so we are considering to expand our business in Lhasa."

According to the latest statistics, about 80 percent of damaged shops during the riot have resumed operation. And the local government will carry out preferential policies for affected businesses in the city, including tax reduction, and interest-free loans.

However, two weeks after the riots, the local tourism industry is still feeling the pinch. This five-star hotel used to be bustling with guests, but it now has few visitors.

Director, Lhasa Tourism Bureau, said, "The occupancy rate of our hotels is currently only 10 percent. And the year on year visitor arrivals has dropped significantly."

That's eighty five thousand US dollars. Hotels here say they've lost up to seven million yuan, or about one million US dollars. Indirect losses will be in the hundreds of millions yuan. And it's hard to say when the industry will fully recover, from the incident.

 

Editor:Zhang Pengfei