An introduction of a new approach to evaluate the environmental performance of tourism development'. The paper addressed the need both to improve the process of evaluating and monitoring the environmental performance of tourism development and to incorporate the results of such evaluation and monitoring into decision-making processes, which will become even more crucial in the future as tourism continues to grow. The issues raised much discussion from which the authors received valuable comments and suggestions. The discussion and debates generated from the forum indicated that although there is much to be done in terms of strategies and priorities in the development of arid and semi-arid areas, the importance of environmental management was recognised unanimously by all delegates.
The closely deยฎned forum theme and the limited numbers of participants generated group cohesion, and also generated many potential research issues. It was agreed that a series of in-depth research works in the arid and semi-arid areas would be greatly needed in the near future, of which comprehensive regional studies will be especially preferred.
The Forum provided a useful opportunity in which leading academics from various backgrounds could exchange ideas and information. Cooperation and collaboration from all sectors was seen as an essential way forward in order to manage and control the ecologicยฑ environmental changes and toward the sustainable development in arid and semi-arid areas in China.