Tibet Autonomous Region in southwest China hosted 3.21 million tourists in the first nine months of the year, up 67 percent over the same period last year, said local tourism authority.

The figure is 710,000 more than the number of tourists for entire 2006.

The booming influx of tourists brought in 3.89 billion yuan (about US$486 million) of revenue to Tibet, an increase of 90.1 percent, according to statistics from the Tibet autonomous regional tourism bureau.

Among the tourists, 2.89 million were Chinese, up 60.7 percent, and 325,870 came from overseas, a rise of 155.4 percent. Overseas tourists contributed US$115 million to the region.

Local tourism officials attributed the rise in tourist numbers to promotional efforts and the operation of Qinghai-Tibet Railway since July 1, 2006.

Tibet expects to play host to 3.8 million tourists, according to the regional development and reform commission.