The 2024 International Mountain Tourism Alliance (IMTA) Annual Conference kicked off in Xingyi, China's Guizhou Province, rallying global leaders to shape the future of eco-conscious travel. With the theme 'Inclusiveness, Mutual Learning, Innovation,' the event spotlighted how tech, culture, and collaboration can transform mountain tourism into a force for sustainability. 💡🏔️
Global Leaders Weigh In
IMTA Chairman Dominique de Villepin called the conference a 'crucial hub' for tackling challenges like climate change and smart tourism trends. Meanwhile, He Yafei, IMTA vice chairman, revealed global tourism revenue hit $1.6 trillion in 2023—nearly 90% of pre-pandemic levels. Talk about a comeback! 📈
Pansy Ho, another IMTA vice chair, stressed that sustainable tourism isn't just about profits: 'It's our duty to protect ecosystems and bridge cultures.' Preach! 🌱
Future-Proofing Mountain Tourism
The conference dropped major updates: Spain's Gran Canaria snagged hosting rights for 2025 International Mountain Tourism Day, while iconic peaks like Switzerland's Jungfrau and China's Changbai Mountain earned 'World Famous Tourism Mountain' titles. 🏆
New hiking trails in China's Five Sacred Mountains also got certified as sustainable 'demonstration routes'—think of them as green-travel blueprints for the world. 🥾✨
Plus, with 11 new members (including Nepal’s trekking agencies and South Korea’s Chungcheongnam-do Tourism Association), IMTA’s network now spans 199 members worldwide. Squad goals, much? 🌏🤝
As IMTA enters its eighth year, one thing’s clear: the future of travel isn’t just about snapping pics—it’s about protecting the planet while we explore. Who’s booking their next mountain adventure? 🧳💚
