SHANGHAI, July 11 -- TRAVELERS to Potala Palace in the Tibet Autonomous Region may need to shorten their stays at the venue as the site capped visiting periods to one hour since the beginning of July.

The policy only applies to package tours and was designed to protect the site and ease ticketing pressure as the palace remains extremely popular among tourists, Shanghai Morning Post reported today.

Potala Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has already put a daily limit on tourist numbers at 2,300 since 2003.

Jokhang Temple, another well-known place of historical interest in Tibet, also limited its visiting period to one hour in May, the report said.

But since the temple is smaller than the palace, the policy didn't affect many travelers. However, visitors may need to be more understanding about the Palace, the report said, citing Shanghai Yaji Travel Agency.

The report also said the time limit may be scrapped after the summer travel peak ends in August.

Bookings of Tibet trips at travel agencies in Shanghai rocketed this month with the price of the region's luxury hotels rising by 200 yuan (US$26.32) to 1,800 yuan a night for a standard double room.

A nine-day travel package to Tibet has risen from 3,500 yuan to more than 5,000 yuan this month. The cost can hit as high as 8,000 yuan if travelers fly to the region.

The number of tourists has increased by 39 percent since the Qinghai-Tibet railway was put in use on July 1, 2006.