The Pan-Pearl River Delta (PPRD) region is willing to strengthen cooperation with the US tourism players, in an effort to gain more shares in the world tourism market.

The American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) & PPRD Tourism Exchange Forum was held here Wednesday on the sidelines of the ongoing 74th ASTA World Travel Congress, which attracted over 2,000 travel professionals worldwide.

The PPRD tourism representatives were invited by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) to meet members of the ASTA in order to explore opportunities for developing tourism business between the United States and the region.

ASTA, the world's largest association of travel professionals, is holding its five-day annual World Travel Congress in Hong Kong which opened Tuesday.

The meeting is expected to create new business platforms for both the US and Hong Kong travel industries.

This is the first time that the PPRD appeared in the world tourism market as an integrated body, which is believed to be more competitive in the world tourism market.

HKTB Executive Director Clara Chong said after the forum that the convening of the meeting in Hong Kong proved Hong Kong's strengthen in the international tourism circles.

She believed that with advantages as an international commercial, aviation and information center, Hong Kong can complement with the natural reserves of the other PPRD places.

Katy Sudeikis, incoming president of ASTA, said the forum provided face-to-face exchanges among the tourism administration chiefs from PPRD region, which is expected to lay a foundation for future cooperation.

She said Hong Kong is one of the traditional holiday destinations of the American people. The tourism cooperation is expected to enable more Americans to expand their Hong Kong journey to one or two more PPRD destinations with a reasonable cost.

Guangdong, Hong Kong's neighboring province which witnessed strong rebound of domestic tourist arrivals, expects to attract more foreign tourists through closer ties with the international tourism market.