AP PHOTOS: Tibet tourism boom pressures historic sites Lhasa China Himalayas Potala Palace Tourists

Tourism is booming in Tibet as more Chinese travel in-country because of the coronavirus pandemic, posing risks to the region's fragile environment and historic sites. The number of visitors is limited to 5,000 per day at the Potala Palace the former home of the Dalai Lamas. Balancing tourist demand with the need to minimize wear and tear on the massive hillside structure is a constant challenge, said Gonggar Tashi, the head administrator. "The biggest challenge for us is the contradiction between the protection and usage of the cultural relics," Tashi told journalists in Lhasa the Tibetan capital. He spoke during…