Nyingchi, a popular tourist city in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. (Photo: VCG)

Nyingchi, a popular tourist city in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, has discouraged thousands of tourists from visiting amid the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic. 

Tibet has activated an emergency response since the outbreak of COVID-19 in China and warned that the spread of the virus could be much worse due to the plateau's low oxygen concentration and limited medical resources. 

Also, according to a new regulation from the city's disease control headquarters, all arriving passengers must go through 14 days of medical observation and quarantine. 

The city's transportation sector has since dissuaded 41 tourist groups from entering and canceled three tourist charter flights involving about 5,000 tourists. The Nyingchi airport also sent notices to 3,276 passengers on 59 flights, persuaded 771 to drop their travel plans and another 31 to return after landing. 

Tibet has seen no new confirmed or suspected cases for 15 days. 

"We will continue to discourage unnecessary travel to curb the spread of epidemic on the plateau through aircraft," said Liu Lisha, a ground service deputy manager with the airport.