BEIJING -- A Chinese lawmaker proposed on Wednesday that the national parliament quicken legislation on tourism to boost the development of the emerging industry.

A tourism law should be put on the legislation agenda of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, as soon as possible, said NPC deputy Cheng Youqing at the parliament's ongoing annual session.

According to the National Tourism Administration (NTA), the tourism industry contributed more than four percent of China's gross domestic product (GDP) in 2004.

"Tourism is playing a more important role in national economy, and a law to regulate the industry becomes apparently necessary," the lawmaker said.

Nearly all the provinces, municipalities and regions in the country have made their own regulations on tourism, which Cheng suggested be used for reference in legislation.

The NTA and other related departments are currently working on a draft tourism law, according to Cheng.

The NPC annual session opened Monday morning in Beijing with nearly 3,000 deputies present, who will discuss the government work report delivered by Premier Wen Jiabao at the opening meeting and deliberate two major law drafts -- a draft property law which grants equal protection to public and private properties, and the draft of a unified corporate tax law which levies equal taxation for domestic and overseas-funded companies.