In the afternoon of June 18, the press conference for the 2008 Shoton Festival was organized by Lhasa government with China Tibet Information Center, Lhasa Brewing Company Ltd., 5100 Glacier Mineral Water, the China Mobile Lhasa Branch ect. at the Zhonghua Hall of Hotel Nikko New Century Beijing.

Chen Zhichang, Standing Committee Member of CPC Lhasa Municipal Committee, Executive deputy mayor of Lhasa and deputy director of Shoton Festival organization committee, Qiong Yumei, director of Beijing Tourism Administration and officials from Lhasa government attended this press conference. 

On the conference, Chen Zhichang introduced the current situation of Lhasa and the related background of Shoton Festival.

Gyangkar, minister of Lhasa Tourism Bureau said:" There were 2.74 million tourists visiting Lhasa in 2007, increasing more than 1 million than 2006. Especially after the Qinghai-Tibet railway was put into use, more and more people from Beijing, Shanghai and Macao would like to travel in Lhasa, the sunny city rich in abundant tourist recources. " Up to now, there are 123 star hotels, 56 well-known travel agencies, as well as 1,500 qualified tour guides. Though Lhasa suffered great setbacks since the March 14 Riots, Gyangkar still believes the tourism in Lhasa can recover with the Olympic Games held in Beijing in August. 

2008 Shoton Festival will start from August 30 to September 5 with the theme of "Attractive Lhasa and Merry Shoton".

On August 30, Tibetans will get together to have fun singing and dancing and watching the Tibetan opera performances in Norbu lingka. The Festival of Displaying the Buddha Image will be held in Drepung Monastery. Moreover, the Festival of Horse-Racing and other athletic activities will start during the Shoton Festival.