From December 25 to 27, the Thematic Training Workshop "IMTA Innovations & Community Participation in Mountain Tourism" (2rd Session) was held in Shaoguan City, Guangdong Province. This Thematic Training Workshop aimed to further expand training outcomes, promote mutual learning and exchange, inject new momentum into members and the industry, and enhance their professional capabilities in the field of innovative mountain tourism development and community co-construction. The International Mountain Tourism Alliance (IMTA) invited experts from domestic tourism and related fields to provide systematic, in-depth, and professional knowledge and case studies to participants. Over 100 representatives from IMTA members, industry professionals, mountain tourism destinations, and related institutions attended the training.

In his opening speech, He Yafei, Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of the IMTA, stated that this Thematic Training Workshop would continue to explore and share the extension of the "Mountain Tourism+" concept that the alliance has long adhered to. He pointed out that China's cultural and tourism industry has been elevated to a strategic pillar of the economy. As practitioners, it is essential to understand the industry from the perspective of national development strategy, with new concepts, new visions, and new perspectives. The essence of tourism is to serve people, meet tourists' aspirations for a better life, provide genuine and effective supply, and integrate demands such as sports, culture, and wellness. He called on the industry to make further efforts in integrating culture, tourism, and technology to empower new tourism formats. He also emphasized the importance of innovative development for community co-construction, highlighting the need to combine new cultural and tourism formats with social co-construction to preserve mountain characteristic cultures and promote the economic development and well-being of mountain communities.