Delegates and experts from 40 countries gathered in Pattaya, Thailand Monday for the 55th Annual Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Conference to discuss ways in promoting tourism in line with the changing trends and seek further cooperation among participating countries in the industry.

The meeting will focus on the new opportunities that the rapidly changing environment has brought out to the tourism sector. The agenda sweeps from gay tourism and celebrity holidays to medical travel and the impact of low cost suppliers.

At the opening ceremony, PATA President and CEO Peter de Jong said he believed tourism could do a lot to foster intercultural understanding and tolerance as well as bringing tangible economic benefit to developing nations.

Over the past four years, tourism in the Asia Pacific region registered an average 7-9 percent growth rate with better achievement in a number of countries and medium performance in others.

In 2005, Vietnam gained more than 3 million visitors and Laos exceeded 1 million. Cambodia already passed the one million mark in 2004.

Following the strike of the Dec. 26 tsunami, the disaster-hit destinations have been on their way to full recovery, Peter said, noting it is not time for complacency, as the sites need continued national and regional supports.

He said PATA would work closely with the United Nation and the World Tourism Organization to track development of the Avian Flu virus and anticipate communications strategies and crisis management scenarios for the region.

At the meeting, Thai Deputy Prime Minister Suwat Liptapanlop said the conference is being held at a time when there is growing recognition of the role that tourism can play in a stable and peaceful future of mankind.

He urged concerted efforts to be paid to expand the industry and ensure its sustainable development.

He said Thailand has set out comprehensive strategies to boost sustainable development of tourism in 2004-2008. The six guidelines include the development of tourism personnel, tourist attractions, infrastructure and transportation links, tourism industrial standards, integrated tourism management along with the promotion of tourism research.

Suwat noted sharing experience and best practices, especially in the areas of agricultural development, public health, and tourism would reduce economic gap between countries in the region, paving the way for common development.

More than 1,100 participants attended Monday's conference, which is scheduled to wind up on April 27.

(Xinhua News Agency April 25, 2006)