Experts at an international seminar have expressed optimism about the economic recovery of tsunami-hit nations despite the huge death toll and damage inflicted by the disaster, Xinhua reports.

Bert Hofman, chief of the World Bank office's economic unit here, said the impact on the economic situation in the disaster-hit countries is "very limited", thanks to international efforts to provide relief and aid.

About $5 billion from more than 60 donors has been granted so far, he said at a seminar on "Post-tsunami: Rebuilding confidence and charting the road in reconstruction".

Over 90 delegates from Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and other countries attended the daylong seminar Thursday.

Long Yongtu, secretary general of the Boao Asian Forum that sponsored the event with the China Red Cross Society, said a precise and objective analysis of post-tsunami economic situations would have a direct bearing on the feasibility of reconstruction.

"It is good news to learn that the economy in affected regions will not be seriously impacted. This will help lift the confidence of investors toward Asia and facilitate economic activities in tsunami-ravaged areas," he said.

Given that many countries like Thailand, Sri Lanka and Indonesia have mapped out new measures to attract overseas travellers, their sluggish tourism industry would be brisk again in a year, Zhang Xuechun, a senior economist of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), predicted.

Zhang also announced the latest ADB adjustment in the economic growth rate forecasts of the affected regions.

Only India was predicted to basically keep its projected growth rate.

The growth rate of Sri Lanka's gross domestic product (GDP) in 2006 was slowed from six percent to five percent, while those for Indonesia and Thailand were both brought down to 5.5 percent.