In what is regarded as a first for China the country is playing host to the 2006 International Forum on Rural Tourism which opened in Guiyang, capital of southwest China's Guizhou Province, on Tuesday.

The meeting -- jointly organized by China National Tourism Administration, the United Nations World Tourism Organization (WTO), the World Bank and the provincial government of Guizhou -- convened with more than 200 tourist industry representatives and experts from 16 countries and regions.

Francesco Frangialli, Secretary General of the WTO, gave a keynote speech at the opening session of the forum. He said poverty alleviation was one of the long-term goals in developing rural tourism and his organization were honored to assist China with its rich cultural and natural heritage in developing business of this area.

Shao Qiwei, director of the China National Tourism Administration, told participants that China's countryside tourist spots were visited by more than 300 million tourists annually with yearly earnings from the sector exceeding 40 billion yuan (US$5 billion).

"Rural tourism development has become a new economic growth sector in China and has the capacity to help poor rural regions shake off poverty," said Shao. The official added that the administration had nominated 35 demonstration spots for rural tourist development scattered throughout the country.

According to administration statistics, 70 percent of urban tourists choose rural tourist destinations during China's three "golden-week" peak travel seasons in May, October and Spring Festival or China's Lunar New Year. Over 60 million visitors flock to rural tourist spots every week during these periods.

The two-day forum will hold group sessions on a variety of topics including how to promote sustainable development in rural areas through tourism.

Guizhou was chosen as the venue for the forum to showcase China's rural tourist development efforts. The economically disadvantaged province is committed to promoting its ethnic brand of cultural tourism, its rural diversity and scenic spots. Its emerging rural tourism sector has helped many impoverished villages shake off poverty.

(Xinhua News Agency September 6, 2006)