The first ever World Leisure Expo is scheduled to be held from April 22 to October 22, 2006 in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang province, the organizers announced.

In addition, the executive committee of the expo decided at its second joint conference that the Ninth World Leisure Congress will also be held on October 16 - 20 in 2006 in Hangzhou, according to the announcement made Thursday evening. More than 3,000 governmentofficials, leisure industry-related NGO representatives and entrepreneurs from home and abroad are expected attend the congress.

The executive committee also approved the plans for market promotion and investment for the expo.

Sponsored by the World Leisure Organization and the Hangzhou city government, the expo aims at promoting exchanges of leisure studies and the development of leisure economy as well as providing a platform for the display of leisure commodities from all over the world.

Besides the congress, the six-month expo is also comprised of exhibitions, trade shows and training programs. Most of the expo activities will take place at the World Leisure Expo Gardens underconstruction at a cost of more than 500 million US dollars.

Founded in 1952, World Leisure is a non-governmental organization aiming to promote leisure for enhancing human health and development. 

2004/04/10
Source: Xinhuanet