LHASA, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- The gross domestic product (GDP) of southwest China's Tibet grew 13.4 percent to 29 billion yuan (3.7 billion U.S. dollars) in 2006, the highest growth rate since 1995, the region's chief statistician said on Thursday.

    "The region's fixed asset investment reached 23.2 billion yuan (2.9 billion U.S. dollars) last year, an 18.4 percent year-on-year increase," said Jinme Doje, director of the Tibet Regional Statistics Bureau.

    The growth of fixed asset investment was mainly due to the region's infrastructure development, such as housing projects for herders and farmers, and the introduction of private investment, Jinme said.

    Per capita GDP in Tibet reached 10,396 yuan (1,332 U.S. dollars) last year.

    Tibet witnessed an average annual GDP growth of 12 percent between 2001 and 2005. The region's GDP growth was 17.9 percent in 1995.

    The region's foreign trade reached 328 million U.S. dollars last year, up 60 percent. Border trade accounted for 53.6 percent.

    The value of Tibet's exports hit 222 million U.S. dollars, up 34 percent over 2005, while the import volume was 106 million U.S. dollars, up 170 percent.

    The region received 2.5 million tourists last year, up 40 percent over 2005, reaping a total revenue of 2.7 billion yuan (350 million U.S. dollars).

    Nearly 20,000 people work in tourism sector in Tibet.

    "The operation of the Qinghai-Tibet railway and the Nyingchi Airport, Tibet's third after Lhasa and Qamdo last year, not only prompted rapid development of tourism in Tibet, but also brought unprecedented opportunities for the service and relevant industries," Jinme said.

    Tibet's wholesale and retail business, catering and real estate industries also developed rapidly last year, he said.

    The Qinghai-Tibet Railway, the first to link Tibet to the rest of China, starts in Xining in northwest China's Qinghai Province and ends in Lhasa. It started operation on July 1 last year.

    The reopening of border trade at the Nathu La Pass bordering Tibet and India, which also occurred last July, also boosted the region's economic development, according to analysts.