The World Tourism Organization (WTO) supports China's efforts in building up tourists' confidence when traveling there and holds an optimistic attitude towards China's future tourism, said Francesco Frangialli, secretary-general of WTO.

Frangialli made these remarks in response to a letter from He Guangwei, the director of the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA).

Director He reiterated that it is safe to travel in China and related tourism activities are being held normally as usual. He also invited WTO officials to go see for themselves.

Frangialli highly praised the CNTA's positive measures in dealing with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and posted the CNTA's announcement on SARS on the WTO's website for all those concerned to know the real situation.

(Xinhua News Agency April 14, 2003)