It is an honor to attend this symposium on cities and tourism under the sponsorship of the Asia-Pacific Tourism Exchange Center (APTEC).
APTEC was established as a public corporation under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Transport exactly one year and one month ago, in September 1995. As we just heard, its main purposes are to assist the activities of the World Tourism Organization (WTO) Regional Support Office for Asia and the Pacific, and promote tourism exchanges with the nations of the Asia-Pacific region.
APTEC achieved substantial results during its first year in connection with the WTO's Asia-Pacific Tourism Week, and a study on the promotion of tourism exchanges with the Silk Road area. During the coming year further steady progress is expected, including the dispatch of a full-fledged study commission to western China to continue the Silk Road study.
Today's symposium on cities and tourism is part of the ongoing Japan-Canada Tourism Conference.
Canada is well known for such cities as Vancouver, Quebec and Mantreal which are very attractrve to tourists. How to strike a balance between the promotion of a city as a tourist destination and the enhancement of the city's functions as a place to live is a very important question for both Japan and Canada. This opportunity to consider the question together with people in key positions is therefore quite valuable. A city that has found a goad balance and is blessed with beautiful scenery is an extremely valuable resource for tourism. In this symposium we will consider some specific examples of city planning in Japan and elsewhere, and hear advice on cities and tourism from the standpoint of professionals. I am sure that it will leave us all with much to think about.
I pray that this symposium will indeed be a very meaningful event. Thank you.