Unlicensed hot springs in Guangdong would be closed to preserve the natural resource and protect consumers' rights, authorities said at a recent conference on tourism dealing with hot springs.

Licenses would be issued to hot spring operators who met certain requirements, and those who failed to meet the required standards would be closed before 2006, the Guangzhou Daily reported.

Hot springs have held an increasing appeal for tourists in recent years because of their high mineral content. One third of the country's hot springs developed for tourist attractions are in Guangdong.

There were more than 130 developed hot springs in the province, but only 33 had been developed legally, the report said.

Operators of commercial hot springs must disinfect the water frequently, and if the water is recycled, the recycling process must meet strict standards, an expert told the conference.

Some experts argued about the legitimacy of some operators pouring heated water into their pools, and most agreed that a standard should be imposed on the content of minerals added, even if the practice was legal.

The preservation of natural resource was also discussed at the conference.

Editor: Catherine