Hi guys,
Well, word on this forum is that no-one is checking the Tibetan Visas anymore. That would be a massive bonus. This might be confirmed by this Chinglish notice from the China Tibet Information Centre. I can't quite understand what they are saying, but here it is!
<http://en.tibet.cn/news/tin/t20070709_269153.htm><BR><BR>June 28, the Tibet Tourism Bureau issued a bulletin on the Tibet Travel Permit (also known as Tibet Tourism Bureau Permit). The full text is as following:
According to a conference of TAR People's Government, since July 1, 2007, inland offices of the TAR Tourism Bureau stop transacting the operation of TTB-permit (Tibet Tourism Bureau Permit).
The TTB-permit will be only issued by the TAR Tourism Bureau Calling Management Office and a new edition for TTB-permit will be launched while the former edition has been called off.
There will be no charge to apply for the TTB-permit.
Tibet Tourism Bureau
June 28, 2007
This was a link from the Melbourne (Australia) Chinese Consulate General <http://melbourne.china-consulate.org/eng/>, so it should be legitimate.
But, I still can't understand what it means?!!! What is the Calling Management Offices, and where the heck is it? At least this visa is free now.
The permit is still officially required.
They will check your TTP on ALL flights to Lhasa.
Many people on this forum have been able to get train tickets to Lhasa and have not been checked for their TTP. Some people bought the TTP, some people did not buy the TTP. (Good luck getting the train though!)
I've been trying to get in touch with a company in Shanghai for two train tickets, but all say it's impossible. (I think because I am not purchasing a whole 'package' with them)
If I read that correctly, it just confirms what many people have already told on this forum: The "inland offices" of the TAR Tourism bureau are, I think, the local branch offices all over China, which so far had the power to issue permits in their own right. This power, it appears, has now been revoked, so that the permit may only be issued (or approved, or...) by the CENTRAL Office, which in the above text is named "Calling Management Office", probably in Lhasa. To ensure that no fakes will be issued "secretly" by the branch offices on "former editions"any longer, they have introduced a new form, a "new edition", of the permit.
That's how I understand it - I may be wrong. But it would be in line with all the reports we have read.
tvb
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