The scenic operator also shares 40 percent of its net income with residents every year.

Lhakpa Tsering, an official of Bagche village in Bakyib district said the tourism industry has been one of the main income sources for residents. The juniper scenic spot brings an average net income of 40,000 yuan ($5,700) to each household, he added. He said his village was removed from the poverty list in 2016.

Villagers are also engaged in other collective economic cooperatives, such as renting land for logistics warehouses and markets for construction materials.

"Our village has collective property worth more than 10 million yuan now, and the average annual per capita rural disposable income in 2019 hit 28,000 yuan," he said.