The International Mountain Tourism Alliance (IMTA) is a non-government, non-profit international organization established with the approval of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, and voluntarily formed by mountain tourism related organizations, groups and individuals. IMTA is registered at the Ministry of Civil Affairs of China, and administered by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China. IMTA has its permanent headquarters in Guiyang City, Guizhou Province, and a liaison office in Beijing.

IMTA was formally established on 15 August, 2017, with the goal of sustainable tourism, and the mission of protecting mountain resources, preserving mountain civilization, promoting mountain economy to the benefit of the people living in mountainous regions. It is committed to preserving and utilizing mountain tourism resources, participating in the construction of mountain tourism governance system, facilitating international tourism exchanges and business cooperation, sharing experience of mountain tourism development, and promoting mountain economy and sustainable development.

The organizational structure of the IMTA includes the General Assembly, the Council and the Secretariat. The General Assembly is the deliberation and decision-making body of the Alliance, consisting of all IMTA members. The Council is the decision-making and executive organ of the Alliance. The Secretariat is the day-to-day administrative body of the Alliance, and has relevant branches. The official languages of the IMTA are Chinese and English.

At the IMTA Membership Preparation Conference on 21 September, 2016, Mr. Dominique de Villepin, former Prime Minister of France, was elected Chairman of the IMTA; Mr. Shao Qiwei, former director of the China National Tourism Administration, was elected Vice Chairman; and Mr. He Yafei, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, was elected Secretary-General (legal person representative). The first IMTA Council consisted of 32 institutions and individuals. On 27 December, 2022, the second General Assembly of the IMTA elected its second Council and leading members. Mr. Dominique de Villepin was re-elected as the Chairman of the IMTA; Mr. He Yafei as Vice Chairman and Secretary-General; Ms. Pansy Ho as Vice Chairman; and Mr. Fu Yingchun as Vice Chairman and Executive Secretary-General (legal person representative). The second Council consists of 41 members from 22 countries and regions of three continents.

Currently, members of the IMTA include 193 groups and individuals from 36 countries and regions all over the world, including 110 Chinese institutions, 73 overseas institutions and 10 individuals. The group members include tourism institutions, non-profit organizations, culture & tourism businesses, financial consulting agencies, tourism colleges, airlines, tourism equipment manufacturers, and outdoor sports organizations from countries and regions renowned for mountain tourism. The individual members include well-known managers, experts, scholars, and entrepreneurs in tourism-related businesses.

Following the mandate of the Statutes, IMTA is committed to building a research and evaluation platform for the development of mountain tourism industry, studying, formulating, releasing, and promoting international standards related to mountain tourism, carrying out mountain tourism resource assessment, market survey, business index prediction, and studying the methods of predicting the development of world mountain tourism. In addition, IMTA is dedicated to building a platform for investment cooperation and innovation in mountain tourism, focusing on the protection and tourism utilization of mountain resources, developing characteristic mountain tourism products, carrying out market promotion, guiding and promoting investment and financing cooperation, building a dialogue platform for members, shaping the Alliance's self-created brand, and providing member consulting and training services. Positive results have been achieved in enhancing and expanding IMTA's international influence and voice.

IMTA is willing to join hands with the world tourism in the spirit of equality, inclusiveness and cooperation to discuss, build and share the high-quality development results of mountain tourism, so that the ecological civilization will lead mountain tourism to a better future.

Chapter I General Provisions

Article 1 Name

The name of this Alliance is International Mountain Tourism Alliance (hereinafter referred to as IMTA).

Article 2 Nature

IMTA is an non-governmental, non-profit international organization composed of mountain tourism-related organizations, institutions and individuals. It is a social organization established in accordance with Chinese law.

Article 3 Purposes

Guided by the goal of sustainable tourism, the IMTA seeks to protect mountain resources, preserve mountain civilization, promote mountain economy to the benefit of the people living in mountainous regions, and facilitate international exchanges, experience sharing and business cooperation among its members. 

IMTA complies with the laws and regulations of the People’s Republic of China, the place of its registration, and complies with the local laws, social ethics and customs of its members.

Article 4 Jurisdiction

IMTA accepts the business guidance and supervision and management of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China, the competent business authority, and the Ministry of Civil Affairs of the People's Republic of China, the registration authority.

Article 5 Seat of Headquarters

Guiyang City, Guizhou Province, China is the permanent seat of IMTA.

 

Chapter II Scope of Business

Article 6 Scope of Business

1. Provide professional services for all members, establish a member-based platform for dialogue, exchanges and cooperation, and promote business cooperation and experience sharing among members;

2. Conduct research on the theory of mountain tourism development, promote practical experience and actual cases of mountain tourism development;

3. Establish mutually beneficial mechanisms for tourism markets among members, carry out marketing and promotion in the tourism market, and promote resource sharing and cross-sector and cross-industry cooperation;

4. Promote the efficient flow of resources, capital and human factors of mountain tourism, share experience on the tourism management of mountain resources, and enhance the tourism service capability and level of members;

5. Convene the IMTA annual conference, participate in the relevant activities of the International Mountain Tourism Conference, and hold mountain tourism-related activities such as meetings and exhibitions;

6. Set up high-level research and consulting agencies on tourism economy, conduct business training and certification, and provide intellectual support and consulting services for tourism developers;

7. Carry out tourism markets survey and forecast tourism prosperity index, publicize comprehensive or special information on mountain tourism indexes, promote mountain tourism-related international standards, and establish an information database on mountain tourism resources to provide information services for tourism operators;

8. Establish cooperative relations with important international organizations such as the World Tourism Organization in the development of mountain tourism.

 

Chapter III  Membership

Article 7 Scope of Membership

Membership of the IMTA consists of institutional members and individual members.

Institutional members refer to the destinations management organizations, non-governmental tourism organizations, groups and enterprises of mountainous countries and regions in the world. The legal representatives or designated representative by the legal representatives of these institutions, organizations, groups and enterprises, take part in IMTA activities on their behalf.

Individual members refer to natural persons engaged in mountain tourism and related businesses.

Article 8 Applicants for IMTA membership must meet the following conditions:

1. Endorse the IMTA Statute;

2. Intention to join the IMTA;

3. Institutional members must be organizations that have the capacity for civil rights and civil conduct, enjoy independent civil rights and undertake civil responsibilities in accordance with law. Individual members must be at least 18 years of age, with full capacity for civil conduct and able to independently engage in civil activities;

4. Command adequate influence in the international mountain tourism sector.

Article 9 Procedures for IMTA Membership

1. Submission of a written application to the IMTA Secretariat;

2. Review by the IMTA Council;

3. Issuance of member certificate.

Article 10 Rights of Members

1. Right to attend, address, vote and make proposals at the General Assembly;

2. Right to elect and stand for election for the Council members;

3. Attend the General Assembly and participate in the related activities host by IMTA;

4. Right to make suggestions on and supervise the annual conference and other activities of the IMTA;

5. Right to use the industry data information provided by the IMTA upon authorization;

6. Priority to organize or sponsor IMTA activities;

7. Right to apply for use of the logo of “International Mountain Tourism Alliance” in the capacity of IMTA member;

8. Entitlement to the preferential treatments of the IMTA;

9. Other rights granted by IMTA

Article 11 Members’ Obligations

1. Comply with the IMTA Statute and the resolutions of the General Assembly and Council;

2. Safeguard the lawful rights and interests of IMTA;

3. Pay membership dues according to the relevant IMTA regulations;

4. Provide authentic and reliable data and information to IMTA;

5. Other relevant obligations prescribed by IMTA.

Article 12 Withdrawal 

The application for withdrawal shall be submitted to the IMTA Secretariat in writing two months in advance. After the decision is made by the Council, the Chairman of IMTA shall send a written notification to the applicant and public the decision;

Article 13 Termination of Membership

The membership shall be terminated if any member has committed one of the following acts:

1. Acts that affect or undermine the reputation of the IMTA;

2. Violation of the IMTA Statute;

3. Failure to perform members’ obligations;

4. Serious breach of faith;

5. Losing contact with the IMTA for more than two years.

6. Failing to pay the membership dues for two years, the membership will be suspended.

The Secretariat shall report the termination of membership to the Council for approval, and the said member shall be informed in advance. The said member has the right to ask for a hearing. The procedural rules regarding the hearing shall be formulated by the Council separately and implemented upon the approval of the General Assembly. The membership dues of the said member shall not be returned upon the termination of its membership.

 

Chapter IV Organization

Article 14 General Assembly

The General Assembly, composed of all the members, is the IMTA’s supreme authority.

Functions and Powers of the General Assembly are as follows:

1. Review the Statute of the IMTA or the amendments to the Statute;

2. Elect or change the Council members;

3. Review the work report and budget and final account report submitted by the Secretariat and examined by the Council;

4. Discuss proposals put forward by the members;

5. Develop and revise the membership dues standards;

6.Decide on the affairs of termination

7. Decide other important matters.

Article 15 Rules of Procedure

The General Assembly shall be held with the attendance of more than two thirds of the members, and any resolution of the General Assembly shall come into effect only after it has been approved through voting by more than half of the members present.

Article 16 Time and Venue for the General Assembly

The General Assembly, to be held at the headquarters of IMTA once in four years, unless otherwise decided by the General Assembly, shall be convened and organized by the IMTA Secretariat. Members attending the General Assembly shall be informed of the relevant matters of the meeting in advance. Should it be held in advance or be postponed owing to special circumstances, the decision made through the discussion of the Council shall be reported for approval in accordance with the limit of jurisdiction and relevant procedures.

Article 17 Council

The Council, which is the executive organ of the General Assembly, oversees the routine work of the IMTA when the General Assembly is not in session, and it shall be accountable to the General Assembly. The Council members shall be produced by simply majority in a public voting by the members at the General Assembly.

The number of Council members, which shall not exceed 30% of the membership, must be an odd number. Each Council member shall serve a four-year term and can be re-elected. The composition of the Council shall reflect the principle of regional balance. The number of Council members may be adjusted, upward or downward, with the approval of the General Assembly.

Article 18 Functions and Powers of the Council

1. Carry out the decisions of the General Assembly;

2. Elect and dismiss the Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, and Secretary-General;

3. Admit new members, and decide on the withdrawal and termination of memberships;

4. Decide on the establishment, alteration and cancellation of executive agencies, branch agencies and representative agencies;

5. Decide on the appointment of Deputy Secretaries-General and agency principals;

6. Be responsible for the interpretation of this Statute;

7. Develop the internal management rules and lead the work of the IMTA;

8. Examine the annual work report and annual budget and final account report submitted by the Secretariat to the General Assembly;

9. Examine the amendment to the Statute, and audit the annual financial audit report;

10. Approve the rules and regulations of the IMTA;

11. Convene the General Assembly and review its agenda;

12. Other mandates given by the General Assembly.

Article 19 Rules of Procedure of the Council

The Council meeting shall be held with the attendance of more than two thirds of the Council members. Any resolution of the Council shall come into effect only after it has been approved through voting by more than two thirds of the Council members present. Every Council member attending the meeting shall have one vote.

Article 20 Time, Venue and Methods for Council Meeting

The meeting of the Council shall be held once a year. The meeting can be held in the place where the General Assembly is held, in the place where the annual International Mountain Tourism Conference is held, or in the city where the headquarters is based. With the proposal of the Chairperson of the IMTA or over half of the Council members, the Council may also hold ad hoc meetings, which shall carry the same effect as routine Council meetings. In case of special circumstances, the meeting of the Council could be convened by means of communication.

Article 21 The Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and Secretary-General of the IMTA shall meet the following conditions

1. Command a considerable influence in the IMTA’s field of business;

2. The age limit for Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and Secretary-General is 70 years in principle, and the Secretary-General shall work full time;

3. Full capacity for civil conduct;

4. Have not been criminally punished.

Article 22 Candidates for the Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and Secretary-General who have exceeded the age limit shall be appointed only after being approved by the Council through voting.

Article 23 The Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and Secretary-General shall serve a four-year term, and they shall serve no more than two terms. In case the term needs to be extended, the appointment shall come into effect only after it has been approved through voting by more than two thirds of the members of the General Assembly.

If the Chairperson is unable to perform his/her duty, the Vice Chairperson or Secretary-General could perform the duties on his/her behalf with the approval of the council. The legal representative of the IMTA shall be the Chairperson, Vice Chairperson or Secretary-General, and the legal representative shall not concurrently serve as the legal representative for other groups.

Article 24 Functions and Powers of the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson

1. Convene and preside over the Council meeting;

2. Check the progress of implementation of the resolutions of the General Assembly and Council;

3. Sign the relevant legal documents on behalf of the IMTA.

Functions and powers of the Vice Chairperson

1. Assist the Chairperson in performing his/her duties according to division of work;

2. Perform the duties of the Chairperson upon authorization when the Chairperson is unable to perform his/her duties;

3. Other mandates given the Council.

Article 25 Honorary Chairperson and Honorary Vice Chairperson

With the consent of the Council, the IMTA may invite prominent figures of the society to serve as its Honorary Chairman and Honorary Vice Chairman. Their term of office shall be the same as that of the current Council.

Article 26 Secretariat

The Secretariat is the day-to-day administrative organ of the IMTA. It is composed of the Secretary-General, several Deputy Secretaries-General and the staff of various divisions. The Secretary-General may propose for the setting up of internal divisions as required by the work and submit the proposals to the Council for approval.

Functions and powers of the Secretariat

• Oversee the organization of all the meetings and activities of the IMTA, implement the resolutions of the General Assembly and Council;
• Draft the annual work report and annual budget and final account report of the IMTA, accept the annual financial audit report, and submit the reports to the Council for examination;
• Raise and manage the funds of the IMTA, draft or revise the IMTA rules and submit to the Council for approval;
• Oversee matters related to the admission, withdrawal and routine liaison of the members;
• Manage the documents and archives of IMTA;
• Coordinate and handle the legal affairs related to the IMTA on its behalf;
• Organize the formulation of action plans, industrial standards and economic reports related to the IMTA’s business;
• Oversee the organization of relevant exhibitions or activities;
• Provide human resources training to members and other cooperation partners;
• Establish the work network and information exchange platform;
• Handle other affairs as entrusted by the Council.

Article 27 Functions and Powers of the Secretary-General and Deputy Secretary-General:

The Secretary-General is responsible for leading the Secretariat. The Secretary-General shall be nominated by the member where the IMTA headquarters is based, reviewed and appointed by the Council.

The Deputy Secretary-General, who assists the Secretary-General in his/her work, shall be nominated by the Secretary-General and appointed by the Council. The Deputy Secretary-General, with a four-year term of office, may be re-elected with the approval of the Council. The Deputy Secretary-General shall be accountable to the Secretary-General. Upon authorization by the Secretary-General and approval by the Council, the Executive Secretary-General can act on behalf of the Secretary-General when the Secretary-General is unable to perform his/her functions.

The functions and powers of the Secretary-General are as follows:

1. Oversee the daily administrative work of the IMTA;

2. Organize the implementation of the annual work plan;

3. Coordinate the work of various executive, branch and representative agencies;

4. Nominate the Deputy Secretary-General and the principals of various executive, branch and representative agencies and submit the nominations to the Council for decision;

5. Employ, promote or dismiss staff members of the Secretariat;

6. Put forward proposals for the adjustment of functional departments or regional offices of the Secretariat and submit the proposals to the Council for review and approval;

7. Handle other affairs as entrusted or authorized by the Council.

Article 28 Termination of the Duties of Secretary-General and Deputy Secretary-General

The duties of Secretary-General and Deputy Secretary-General shall be terminated under any of the following circumstances:

1. A written resignation is submitted to and approved by the Council;

2. The Council approves a dismissal resolution when he/she commits a serious dereliction of duty or cannot perform his/her functions.

 

Chapter V Management and Use of Assets

Article 29 Source of Funds

1. Membership dues;

2. Public donation;

3. Government support;

4. Incomes from activities or services carried out within the scope of approved business;

5. Interest and returns of assets;

6. Other legal incomes.

Article 30 Membership Dues

The IMTA collects the membership dues in accordance with the regulations of the country where the headquarters is based.

Article 31 Use of Funds

All funds of the IMTA shall be used for achieving the purposes of IMTA within the scope prescribed by this Statute and other detailed rules of the IMTA.

Article 32 No organization or individual may occupy, secretly divide or misappropriate the assets of the IMTA.

Article 33 The IMTA shall comply with internationally recognized accounting norms and financial regulations. It shall establish a stringent financial management system and ensure that all accounting materials are legal, true and intact.

Article 34 The IMTA shall be staffed with professional accounting personnel, who shall not concurrently serve as the treasurer. The accounting personnel must conduct accounting calculation and be subject to accounting supervision. When moving to other jobs or leaving the current job, the accounting personnel must complete the handover procedures with his/her successor.

Article 35 The assets management of IMTA shall be subject to the financial regulations of the country where the headquarters is based, and accept the supervision of the General Assembly and the financial authorities. Funds that come from state appropriation or public donation and support must accept the supervision of the audit authorities, and the relevant information must be made available to the public through appropriate means.

Article 36 Before any re-election or change of the legal representative, the IMTA shall accept the financial audit. Every year, IMTA's accounts shall be audited by a certified accounting firm and submitted to the Council for audit.

Article 37 The insurance, welfare and other entitlements of official IMTA staff members may refer to the relevant regulations of the country where the headquarters is based, with appropriate upward adjustment.

 

Chapter VI Procedure of Amendment for the Statute

Article 38 The amendments of the Statute shall be approved by the Council through voting and then submitted to the General Assembly for review.

Article 39 The amendments of the Statute, within 15 (fifteen) days after they have been adopted by the General Assembly through voting, shall come into effect after they have been examined and approved by the business authority and reported to the registration authority for review and approval.

 

Chapter VII Termination and Property Disposal

Article 40 In case the IMTA is to have its registration nullified due to such circumstances as completion of purposes, independently initiated dissolution or separation and merger, a motion of termination shall be put forward by the Council.

Article 41 The motion on the dissolution of the IMTA shall be subject to the review and approval of the competent business authority of the country where the headquarters is based.

Article 42 Before being terminated in accordance with law, the IMTA shall establish a liquidating committee according to international practice and the laws and regulations of the country where the headquarters is based to sort out the assets and debts of the IMTA. During the liquidating period, it shall not engage in any activity other than liquidating.

Article 43 The IMTA shall be deemed as terminated after its registration is nullified at the registration authority of the country where the headquarters is based.

Article 44 The remaining assets of the IMTA after termination shall be disposed of under the supervision of the registration authority in accordance with the termination resolution or devoted to the development of undertakings in line with the purposes of the IMTA in accordance with the relevant legal provisions.

 

Chapter VIII Supplementary Provisions

Article 45 The IMTA’s working languages are Chinese and English. Other languages will be used for activities and publications for special needs.

Article 46 The Statute was approved through voting by the General Assembly on 27^th December, 2022.

Article 47 The right to interpret this Statute shall rest with the IMTA Council.

Article 48 This Statute shall come into force on the date of review and approval by the registration authority of the city of the country where the headquarters is based.