A Evaluation on the Worldwide Convention of Mountain Tourism and Out of doors Sports activities 2024
Beijing, China, twenty eighth October 2024, ZEX PR WIRE, Gathering in a Haven of Wellness and a Metropolis of Tradition, Embracing a Golden Autumn with Clear Skies and Lush Environment, the Worldwide Convention of Mountain Tourism and Out of doors Sports activities 2024 (MTOS) was efficiently held in Xingyi Metropolis, Qianxinan Prefecture, Guizhou Province from September 26 to 27. Over 400 individuals from China, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Japan, Pakistan, Nepal, Spain, and different international locations—comprising representatives from worldwide organizations, international embassies in China, Worldwide Mountain Tourism Alliance (IMTA) members, tourism-related companies, mountain tourism vacation spot administration companies, {industry} consultants, students, and media—gathered to debate and share insights on the convention’s theme, ‘ Integration of Culture, Sports and Tourism Presents a High – Quality Life.’ Collectively, they explored revolutionary, sustainable pathways for high-quality mountain tourism within the new period, providing options to empower new productive forces within the mountain tourism {industry}.
MTOS is the one nationwide and worldwide high-level summit in China targeted on mountain tourism. This yr’s convention was hosted by the Worldwide Mountain Tourism Alliance (IMTA), organized by the IMTA Secretariat and the Folks’s Authorities of Qianxinan Prefecture, Guizhou Province, and obtained robust help from the Guizhou Provincial Division of Tradition and Tourism, Guizhou Provincial Sports activities Bureau, Guizhou Provincial International Affairs Workplace, Guizhou Tourism Trade Growth Group Co., Ltd., and Guizhou Civil Aviation Trade Group. The convention featured numerous thematic sections and included a complete of 17 occasions.
As Zurab Pololikashvili, UN Tourism Secretary-Basic, talked about in his congratulatory letter to the convention: “This annual event serves as a significant platform, not only for the Chinese mountain tourism sector but also for the global tourism community. This year’s theme, focused on the construction and innovation of mountain tourism governance systems, reflects the forward-thinking approach needed in today’s rapidly evolving tourism landscape .”
Celebrating the Grand Opening and Sharing the Fruitful Outcomes of Mountain Tourism
On the morning of September 26, guests have been captivated by practically 100 images works from 25 international locations, showcasing the beautiful pure and cultural attract of mountain tourism on the World Mountain Pure and Cultural Images Exhibition . Co-hosted by IMTA and the Japan-China Friendship Photographers Affiliation, the exhibition obtained robust help from many famend worldwide photographers and associated organizations.
The convention’s opening ceremony comprised three segments: Opening Handle, Releasing Achievements, and an Awarding Ceremony. In the course of the Opening Handle, audio system analyzed the background and significance of the convention from totally different views, starting from native insights in Guizhou and China to broader Asia-Pacific and international views, whereas additionally highlighting the important position performed by the Worldwide Mountain Tourism Alliance.
Lu Yongzheng, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Guizhou Provincial Committee and Head of the Publicity Division of the Provincial Social gathering Committee, remarked that that is the primary convention held since changes have been made to the convention’s organizational construction. He famous that the theme, ‘Integration of Culture, Sports and Tourism Presents a High – Quality Life,’ aligns with the general public’s need for a greater life, constructing a bridge for worldwide exchanges on mountain tourism and revealing new developments within the high-quality growth of the tourism {industry}.
Peter Semone, Chairman of the Pacific Asia Journey Affiliation (PATA), identified that mountains have gotten focal factors for vacationers in search of new experiences. Pushed by this demand, China’s mountain tourism locations are quickly growing into world-class places. He emphasised that the affiliation’s mission and purpose are to handle the mountain tourism {industry} responsibly, sustainably, and with equitable profit distribution whereas supporting the restoration and development of inbound tourism to China and the broader Asia-Pacific area.
He Yafei, IMTA Vice Chairman and Secretary-Basic, delivered a speech and formally introduced the opening of the convention. He famous that for the reason that inception of the MTOS in 2015, the occasion has embraced the revolutionary idea of “Tourism + Sports,” striving to create an essential platform that integrates mountain tourism with outside sports activities. This platform not solely promotes the deep integration of mountain tourism, sports activities, and the tourism {industry}, contributing to the cultural and tourism growth in Guizhou, but in addition serves as a mannequin for the synergistic growth of mountain tourism, outside sports activities, and the mountain economic system.
As a key a part of the opening ceremony, two important analysis achievements, drafted and formulated by the Worldwide Mountain Tourism Alliance, have been formally launched.
“Our aim with this research is not only to examine the impact of climate change on mountain tourism destinations but also, more importantly, to explore how the tourism industry and local communities can mitigate the effects of global warming and adapt to new environmental conditions,” stated Francesco Frangialli, Honorary Secretary-Basic of UNWTO and council member of IMTA, as he introduced the examine titled “Mountain Tourism Destinations Responding to Climate Change” in three languages—Chinese language, French, and English. The examine affords tutorial options to handle local weather points within the growth of mountain tourism.
Moreover, the Certification Standards and Pointers of World Well-known Tourism Mountains was unveiled. The paperwork was drafted by IMTA to advertise and set up a world tourism mountain analysis system, aiming to guard and make the most of mountain tourism sources and contribute to the worldwide governance of mountain tourism. The rules are designed to cement the authority of “World Famous Tourism Mountains.” Wu Bihu, Director of the Worldwide Heart for Recreation and Tourism Analysis on the Faculty of City and Environmental Sciences of Peking College and an skilled of IMTA, launched that the Certification Standards are categorized based mostly on “Natural Orientation” and “Cultural Orientation” classes. These requirements, consistent with the event developments of the mountain tourism {industry}, define the fundamental standards for a “World Famous Tourism Mountains” throughout three points: pure sources, cultural sources, and complete supporting companies. The Certification Pointers clarify the implementation procedures of the Certification Standards and can be constantly up to date and improved.
Following a world name for nominations, 14 world tourism mountains have been chosen as the primary batch, together with Jungfrau (Switzerland), Annapurna-I (Nepal), Risco Caido and Gran Canaria Sacred Mountains（Spain）, Serra da Estrela (Portugal), Desk Mountain (South Africa), and 10 mountains from China: Changbai Mountain (Jilin Province), Mount Emei (Sichuan Province), Fanjing Mountain (Guizhou Province), Hengshan (Shanxi Province), Hengshan (Hunan Province), Yulong Snow Mountain (Yunnan Province), Songshan (Henan Province), Wugong Mountain (Jiangxi Province), and Mangshan (Hunan Province).
Following the awards ceremony for the primary group of “World Famous Tourism Mountains,” the convention additionally awarded the title of ” World Wellness Demonstration Metropolis ” to Xingyi, additional enhancing the town’s enchantment and affect within the wellness tourism sector and driving the mixing of mountain tourism and wellness industries.
Collaborative Dialogue: Asian Experiences Benefiting the World
Instantly after the opening ceremony, the Asian Mountain Tourism Promotion Convention 2024 was held. This was the third such occasion below the Ministry of Tradition and Tourism’s “Asia Tourism Promotion Plan.” Centered across the theme of “Mutual Learning and Cooperation – Join Hands to Embark on a New Journey of Asian Mountain Tourism,” the convention explored matters akin to ” Mountain Tourism Innovation & Group Co-construction” and ” Asian Knowledge and Apply for Mountain Tourism.” Specialists from numerous Asian international locations shared their insights, contributing the Asian perspective to the worldwide stage and providing fashions for collaborative growth that show the rules of session, co-construction, and shared advantages.
On the Asian Mountain Tourism Promotion Convention, Djibril Fofana, Basic Secretary of the World Affiliation for Hospitality and Tourism Training and Coaching (AMFORHT), shared how training permits native communities to higher perceive their setting, historical past, and tradition whereas elevating consciousness of the significance of defending fragile ecosystems, notably in mountainous areas. Coaching, alternatively, permits professionals within the tourism {industry} to boost their abilities, innovate, and adapt to new developments, which is important for sustaining high-quality tourism companies. Fofana emphasised that shut cooperation with the Worldwide Mountain Tourism Alliance will play a vital position on this space.
Ajay Prakash, World President of the Worldwide Institute for Peace by means of Tourism (IIPT), shared his insights on how mountain tourism gives a lifeline for a lot of rural communities world wide by creating jobs and stimulating native companies. He emphasised the significance of balancing the environmental pressures brought on by overtourism with the necessity to shield fragile ecosystems. To realize this, revolutionary infrastructure, digital platform empowerment, and the event of much less environmentally impactful tourism kinds, akin to sports activities tourism, might be explored. He additionally harassed that sustainable mountain tourism can solely be achieved by means of the collaboration of governments, non-public enterprises, NGOs, and native communities.
Professors Tanaka Toyoji from the Worldwide Change Heart at Nishikyushu College, and Tsuyoshi Yamaguchi, Chairman of the Board of Administrators of Ureshino Onsen Vacationer Affiliation, launched Ureshino Onsen, a scorching spring vacation spot with over 1,400 years of historical past in Saga Prefecture in Japan. They highlighted that as society continues to evolve, the character of tourism is altering as effectively. Wellness tourism is gaining recognition inside mountain tourism tasks, with scorching springs serving as the inspiration and “health” and “well-being” components built-in into the vacationer expertise. This strategy gives guests with a way of emotional satisfaction and happiness.
Resonating with the Spirit of the Occasions: Innovation at IMTA Annual Convention
The IMTA Annual Convention 2024 is without doubt one of the core occasions. Because the world’s first non-governmental, non-profit worldwide group targeted on mountain tourism, IMTA has persistently upheld its mission to “protect mountain resources, preserve mountain culture, promote mountain economies, and benefit mountain communities” whereas striving for the sustainable growth of mountain tourism. This yr’s annual convention theme, ” Inclusiveness, Mutual Studying, Innovation – Empowering Sustainable Mountain Tourism with New High quality Productive Forces,” aimed to delve into revolutionary growth paths for high-quality and sustainable mountain tourism within the context of the brand new period.
Dominique de Villepin, Chairman of the Worldwide Mountain Tourism Alliance, said that dealing with the transformations and challenges of mountain tourism’s future requires a deep understanding of {industry} developments from a number of views, dimensions, and ranges. Governments, companies, and all sectors of society should work collectively to foster the rising prosperity of the tourism market. That is the driving drive behind IMTA’s creation of worldwide dialogue platforms such because the annual assembly, Worldwide Mountain Tourism Day, and the Asian Mountain Tourism Promotion Convention.
In a congratulatory letter, Zurab Pololikashvili, UN Tourism Secretary-Basic, recommended the position of IMTA in selling international sustainable mountain tourism practices. He famous that IMTA has contributed considerably to enhancing cultural variety and environmental consciousness whereas additionally fostering native financial development by means of inclusive and sustainable growth practices.
IMTA Vice Chairman and Secretary-Basic He Yafei remarked that the brand new period is shaping a contemporary panorama for international tourism. Over the previous yr, IMTA has constantly organized mountain tourism-themed occasions, creating a powerful platform for collaboration. Via discussions on alternatives and developments in mountain tourism, IMTA has facilitated exchanges and cooperation between its members, governments, and the {industry}, yielding exceptional outcomes.
IMTA Vice Chairman Pansy Ho expressed that IMTA stays dedicated to selling the rules of “ecology first, green development, solidarity, cooperation, and mutual benefit.” By leveraging IMTA’s membership community and {industry} sources, IMTA actively helps the revolutionary use of mountain sources, the preservation and transmission of cultural heritage, and the event of regional economies, contributing to the sustainable growth of the worldwide tourism {industry}.
In IMTA’s annual work report, Fu Yingchun, Vice Chairman and Govt Secretary-Basic of IMTA, highlighted that IMTA has actively built-in into the worldwide mountain tourism governance system. Its worldwide visibility and affect have continued to develop, with important growth in enterprise collaboration alternatives and improved general operational effectiveness. The “Mountain Integration” platform created by IMTA has maintained a gentle development trajectory, with the three key platforms—Worldwide Mountain Tourism Day, the Annual Convention Discussion board, and the Asian Mountain Tourism Promotion Convention—demonstrating renewed vitality and power this yr.
As a outstanding a part of IMTA’s brand-building efforts, “International Mountain Tourism Day” has now been efficiently held six instances. In Might 2024, the theme occasion for Worldwide Mountain Tourism Day was hosted in Good, Alpes-Maritimes, France, resonating extensively with the {industry}. On the annual assembly, He Yafei awarded the internet hosting rights for the Worldwide Mountain Tourism Day 2025 to Gran Canaria, Spain.
In the course of the annual convention, the “International Mountain Hiking Tourism Demonstration Routes” have been additionally awarded to the Hengshan, Hengshan (Shanxi), and Songshan segments of the Chinese language 5 Sacred Mountains mountaineering routes. Constructing on the momentum of the annual assembly, IMTA additionally expanded its Skilled Committee and membership. 9 senior consultants from the tourism {industry} and associated fields joined the Skilled Committee, bringing new insights to IMTA’s assume tank. Moreover, 11 new member organizations have been awarded certificates, rising IMTA into a world household with 199 institutional and particular person members (118 home and 81 worldwide).
Throughout media interviews, a number of friends praised the IMTA for its excellent contributions in platform operations, model constructing, and achievement realization. They expressed robust willingness to strengthen communication and cooperation with IMTA for mutual advantages.
Numerous Actions Appeal to Media Consideration
This yr’s convention was extremely revolutionary in its occasion design, providing a sequence of thrilling auxiliary actions past the primary convention occasions. These actions garnered intensive media protection, main the brand new wave of mountain tourism
The 2024 Wanfenglin Climbing Convention, themed “Run with Passion, Enjoy the Beauty of Xingyi,” was launched with nice enthusiasm. As a core occasion of 2024 MTOS, the mountaineering convention attracted over 10,000 mountaineering fanatics, permitting individuals to expertise the attraction of outside sports activities and selling the mixing of tradition, sports activities, and wellness tourism
The 2024 China Worldwide Tenting Convention and Tradition, Sports activities, and Wellness Gear Expo kicked off on September 26 at Jushan Sq. in Xingyi. Li Shouwen, Govt Chairman of the China Worldwide Tenting Convention, emphasised that outside sports activities and experiential tourism have gotten new developments in fashionable life-style and consumption. This yr’s theme, “Collaboration between East and West: Integrating into the Unified National Market,” targeted on creating protected tools, protected environments, and protected processes. Leveraging the MTOS platform and IMTA’s international sources, the occasion facilitated worldwide exchanges and contributed to the “dual circulation” financial technique.
The 8·9·00 Idea Assembly is a custom-made platform for the youthful technology, designed by IMTA to foster alternate and innovation round cultural tourism developments. In an open and relaxed ambiance, this youth-oriented discussion board lined matters akin to cross-industry integration in mountain tourism, digital advertising, enterprise mannequin upgrades, and sustainable growth. It sparked curiosity and resonance from younger entrepreneurs and profitable younger professionals alike.
On the Mountain Tourism Funding and Financing Change Seminar organized by IMTA, greater than 50 home and worldwide funding consultants, cultural tourism enterprise representatives, and monetary establishment representatives mentioned matters akin to cross-border mergers and acquisitions for useful resource integration, alternatives and dangers within the securitization of cultural tourism property, and profitable experiences in homestay funding and model administration. Wu Mai, IMTA Vice Secretary Basic, said that IMTA will leverage its strengths and platform features, actively introduce diversified financing methods, strengthen cooperation with monetary establishments, and use monetary instruments to innovate cultural tourism merchandise.
Across the 2024 MTOS, a wide range of supporting occasions have been held, together with the 2024 Wanfenglin Half Marathon, the 18th China Wanfeng Lake Wild Fishing Competitors, the 2024 China Mountain Bike League (Xingyi Station), the 2024 China Anlong Worldwide Rock Climbing Week & First “Rock Tourism Guizhou” Rock Climbing Carnival, and the 2024 Wanfenglin Climbing and Path Impediment Race. These actions enriched the event of the outside sports activities {industry}, empowering it whereas showcasing the pure magnificence and dynamic spirit of Guizhou Province, often known as the “Mountain Park Province.”
The convention was extremely acknowledged by attending leaders and friends, receiving heat suggestions. Media shops supplied complete protection of the occasion. The convention and IMTA’s growth caught the eye of Hao Xiaohong, former Vice President of the Nationwide Tour Affiliation of the US, who promptly printed an in-depth report within the U.S. media titled Mountain Tourism, Striving Ahead—The Driving Power from Guizhou, China. Within the article, Hao expressed her admiration: “Guizhou is blessed with unique natural resources, a true gift from nature. It is a fortune to collaborate and prosper in this land of mountains. Mountain tourism is progressing steadily, and I wish IMTA and Guizhou continued success!”
As of October 16, over 100 media shops—together with CGTN, Folks’s Each day, The Paper, China Tradition Each day, China Tourism Information, China Radio Worldwide, and Sina Weibo—printed hundreds of experiences on the MTOS opening ceremony, the IMTA annual assembly, and different supporting occasions just like the 8·9·00 Idea Assembly. The experiences reached audiences in China, the U.S., France, and different international locations and areas.
