The 20th Inter-Islands Tourism Policy Forum commence yesterday in Galle. The Forum will be held for three consecutive days with the aim of promoting the tourism in the southern province. 

The international islands general council has decided to promote different parts of the island in the world. The present chairman of the council is the Governor of the Southern Province Dr. Hemakumara Nanayakkara. The particular forum will promote the historical and tourist attraction sites of the province. Mr. Nanayakkara also said this forum will create more opportunities in different sectors of tourism. 

The forum will also focus its attention on the basic facilities and the progress of tourism promotional activities in the island.

Discussion to establish ITOP Forum had been started by agreement on the creation of tourism policy forum in the East Asia among Jeju, Bali and Hainan in 1995, which strongly support the idea that cooperative relationship between world's islands is highly needed.

In 1996, Jeju and Okinawa started out to discuss joint plans to boost the Islands tourism and mutual exchange. After several discussion among the four regions, the 1st ITOP Forum was held in Jeju in 1997 and permanent member regions hold the Forum in sequence every year.