Mountains, as important surface configurations, ecosystems and living spaces as well as important tourism resources, account for about 25% of the world’s land area and are located in 75% of all countries in the world. The natural and cultural resources in mountainous environments are precious treasures shared by all mankind and play a very important role in global tourism development pattern. According to the statistics of UN World Tourism Organization, mountain tourism currently accounts for 20% of total tourism market in the world and is increasing year by year. It is an indispensable part of the tourism industry. There are various types of mountain tourism with rich contents, covering sightseeing, leisure, climbing, hiking, skiing, adventure, scientific investigation, popularization of science, research, etc. Mountain tourism has become an emerging lifestyle that people yearn for.
International organizations are important participants in global governance and play an important role in building the community of human destiny. International Mountain Tourism Alliance (IMTA), as an international organization themed on mountain tourism, has the historical mission of protecting mountain resources, preserving mountain civilization and promoting mountain economy to the benefit of the people living in mountainous regions. IMTA members include 142 groups and individuals from 29 countries and regions in five continents of the world. The membership structure is universal, representative and leading in the field of global mountain tourism, and will continue to grow as the IMTA grows. Since its establishment, IMTA has, based on its purposes, actively utilized the advantages of IMTA members and professional international organizations to conduct beneficial practices in exploring mountain tourism resources sharing, cooperation and exchange, mutual benefit and win-win situation and sustainable development, achieving positive results.
Mountain tourism is in the ascendant and has broad prospects. IMTA needs to explore and establish a cooperation sharing platform that IMTA members and mountain tourism industry can easily and extensively participate in; and accumulate experience, expand influence, and continuously improve IMTA’s ability to serve its members, the industry and the society in practice. Therefore, after deliberation at the plenary meeting of the Council of the International Mountain Tourism Alliance and with unanimous approval from all members, the proposal for initiating the “International Mountain Tourism Day” will be present at this Annual Conference of IMTA, in order to determine 29 May as “International Mountain Tourism Day” marked by the first successful scaling of the Everest, the highest mountain in the world, by mankind. On 29 May, 1953, Edmund Hillary, a mountaineer from New Zealand, and his Nepalese guide Tenzing Norgay successfully scaled the Everest for the first time in the history of mankind. This pioneering undertaking reflects the spirit and belief that human beings live in harmony with the nature, are not afraid of danger and difficulty, bravely climb, actively move forward, explore the unknown and pursue ideals. To develop mountain tourism, mountain tourism participants shall continuously explore, change and innovate with wisdom and abilities. The successful scaling of the Everest as mentioned in the above is a perfect interpretation for exploring and innovating, challenging breakthroughs and bravely moving forward.
IMTA chooses to determine 29 May as “International Mountain Tourism Day”, which has positive symbolic significance as well as practical significance in promoting friendly exchange and active development of mountain tourism in the world. We propose all members to take the lead in participating in and supporting the “International Mountain Tourism Day” event. On the “International Mountain Tourism Day” of each year, various wonderful mountain tourism activities shall be organized and carried out according to the tourism themes and industry characteristics. We also advocate destination agencies, organizations, companies, colleges and universities and professionals in the field of mountain tourism to actively follow, support and participate in the “International Mountain Tourism Day” event; to carry out various activities, regardless of scale, to arouse public awareness about protecting mountain resources and preserving mountain civilization and public responsibility for promoting mountain economy to the benefit of people living in mountainous regions; and to initiate a positive, healthy and uplifting lifestyle, create a good mountain tourism environment, promote sustainable development of mountain tourism and build a better future for mountain tourism.
Enjoy the wonder of mountains and share the beautiful life.
