It was founded by Hainan Province, Jeju Province of the Republic of Korea, Okinawa Prefecture of Japan
and Bali Province of the Republic of Indonesia in July 1997. Designed as a mechanism for tourism cooper
-ation through top official communication, academic discussions and information exchanges, it aims at the promotion of tourism and the composition of forces in face of severe international competition. On the Eighth
ITOP Forum held in Hainan in 2004, new members have been added: Autonomous Region of Canary Islands, Spain, Southern Province, Sri Lanka, the State of Hawaii, United States of America, and Zanzibar, Tanzania
as the Forum's permanent Members; Oulu Province, Finland and State of Salzburg, Austria as permanent Cooperative Partners.
