16. Mar 2009
Luxury train to Lhasa postponed
(AP) The launch of the first luxury train service from Beijing to Lhasa along the Golmud-Lhasa railway has been postponed from April until spring 2010, the operator said, amid China's economic slowdown and a security crackdown. "The decision was taken by our management in light of the current business climate and all the financial indicators in the near term", said Erena Chan, sales and marketing director for Tangula Luxury Trains. Although Tangula characterises the postponement as strictly a "business decision", tourism in Tibet has languished recently. "It's not a good time to visit Tibet now, and I think you know the reason", said Xiao Su, sales manager for the Tibet-China Travel Agency, based in Lhasa.