These words from the Dalai Lama were spoken with the hope of spreading to the world the majesty of this most enchanting of places. Enchanting though it is, Tibet travel is fraught with cultural and religious turmoil, political intrigue, and national divisions that aren't always clear and which seem to change as rapidly as the winds blowing across this highest plateau in the world.
These words, spoken by Tenzin Gyatso, the (current) 14th Dalai Lama, encouraging Tibet travel were followed by the directive to “Then tell the world.” For centuries the reigning Dalai Lama has been the political and religious head of state but hostilities with China have made it necessary for the current Dalai Lama to guide his people from exile in India since 1959.
The social and political unrest and oppression by the People's Republic of China (PRC) have wreaked havoc on the traditional lifestyle and culture of the Tibetan people. In keeping with his ancestral heritage as being an enlightened priest of compassion, the Dalai Lama wants to bring peace, using nonviolent means, to the country of his birth and the spiritual homeland of his forefathers.
The Chinese military invasion of the country in 1949 has led to severe restrictions to Tibet travel and precautions are advised. One of the most important precautions to consider is to do your research before you embark on your journey. You will be getting permission to travel in Tibet from the Chinese government and their rules and regulations for travel to Tibet change constantly, sometimes from one traveler to the next.
Tibet travel can almost be considered travel in two separate countries. Travel in the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR), where there is actually very little autonomy in evidence, is strictly regulated by the PRC while travel in the open zones is often described as more straightforward, without convoluted rules and regulations in a constant stage of revision. Indeed, even borders and regional boundaries are not clearly defined.
The Dalai Lama lives in hope of uniting his country in what he calls a Zone of Peace. For this effort and others calling for world peace and more ethical treatment of people everywhere, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Price in 1989. It is his dream that people enjoying Tibet travel will help spread the word and help bring peace once again to his beloved homeland.