The Boao Forum for Asia-tourism Conference, which starts today, has attracted people from 32 countries and 10 international and regional organizations.

They include tourism ministers of Asian countries, mayors of famous cities, chief executives and business leaders in the tourism sector in Asia.

"This is the first professional conference sponsored by the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) and I wish it well," said Yao Wang, Executive Director of the BFA at the news conference yesterday.

Other professional conferences cover such aspects as energy resources, environmental protection and IT, according to Yao.

"Cosponsored with China National Tourism Administration and Asia Cooperation Dialogue, BFA hopes the conference can build a friendly platform for Asian countries to enhance further cooperation in tourism - one of the most booming industries in the region," he said.

About 30 speeches will be presented by scholars and government leaders during the conference, covering the themes of sustainable development of tourism resources in Asia, tourism and poverty alleviation, tourism and employment, regional tourism cooperation, and the impact of terrorism on the Asian tourism industry.

The first annual conference of the Boao Forum for Asia was successfully held in Boao - a scenic harbour on the eastern coast of South China's Hainan Island - in April.

"Since then, the BFA has started to plan and prepare professional conferences," said Syed Abul Hossain, spokesman of BFA.

(Xinhua News Agency November 18, 2002)