According to reports, Taiwan has sent a team to Japan to attend the 6th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEAC) Tourism Ministerial Meeting.

The two-day meet, which opened in Nara on Wednesday, is targeted at endorsing tourism exchanges among APEAC member nations.

The delegation group from Taiwan will be headed by transportation minister Mao Chi-kuo and Tourism Bureau Director-General Janice Lai.

While talking to media, Lai said, “This year's event is focused on the crucial role of tourism in economic growth, and the sustainable development of the tourism industry. High on the agenda are cooperative efforts on cross-border tourism and a new tourism model that combines sports and ecology.”

Further talking to media, Lai said that the country is mainly concentrating on tourism department, with the government listing it as one of the six major emerging industries.

According to Lai, visitor arrivals in the country increased by 14.3 percent in 2009 - that’s higher than anywhere else in the Asia-Pacific area.

In the meantime, the 15th APEAC Women Leaders Network Meeting is scheduled to close on Tuesday in Tokyo.

Wang Ju-hsuan, Taiwan’s Labor Minister spoke about her ministry’s experience helping women establish their own business groups.