Tibet combines tradition and technology
Print Edition
WHILE Tibet evokes images of ancient traditions for many tourists, some are discovering they don’t have to give up modern conveniences when they travel in the far western region.
A tourist from southeast China’s Fujian Province was surprised to find he was able to pay through Alipay at a fast food chain in downtown Lhasa.
The restaurant opened in March, and within a month, customers no longer had to pay in cash.
“Mobile payments have not only improved efficiency, but also save tourists a lot of time withdrawing money from the ATM,” its manager said.
Li, a 44-year-old taxi driver, worked at a construction site in Lhasa before a friend suggested he register on ride-hailing platforms to earn extra money.
“I tried it and found the market really promising,” he said. “I can earn 120 yuan (US$17) a day, and my income can triple or even quadruple during peak seasons.”
Going cashless has become the new normal for Tibetans.
Restaurants, souvenir shops, and movie theaters all provide online payment services.
QR codes have become commonplace at booths selling traditional Tibetan jewelry to tourists.
Figures from the Tibet communication administration bureau indicate that the number of Internet users in Tibet reached 1.639 million as of March.
An account statement from Alipay also showed that 83.3 percent of payments in Tibet were made via mobile phones last year, topping the country for four years in a row.
“This year’s online transactions rose significantly compared to previous years,” said Norbu, a People’s Bank of China employee in Lhasa.
“Partly because more stores accept online payments, but more importantly, it shows a change in consumption and payment habits among the public in Tibet,” he said.
As one young Tibetan man noted: “Paying online has become part of our lives.”
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