The "International Mountain Tourism Day 2024" Theme Events will be held in Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France on May 29. The Events is hosted by the International Mountain Tourism Alliance (IMTA), a non-profit international organization initiated and established by China. A series of activities will be held around the events theme "Mutual Understanding among People through Mountain Tourism" and the forum theme "Mountain Tourism Destinations Responding to Climate Change", including a launching ceremony, theme forum, promotion conference, negotiation meeting, exhibition, etc.
Scenery of the Nice Côte d'Azur. Image source: Nice Côte d'Azur Tourism Board @Ville de Nice.
The year 2024 marks the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and France, and is also the "China-France Culture and Tourism Year". France is a cultural and artistic center of Europe and one of the earliest countries to develop mountain tourism, the Theme Events held here will be meaningful. Through multi-perspective, multi-field, and multi-topic discussions and interactions, it will bring in-depth thinking and experience to the attendees. Through various exchange activities, it will showcase and disseminate the development concept of mutual understanding among people, and promote the innovation of the "Mountain Tourism Plus" model.
At the opening ceremony on the morning of May 29, leaders and representatives from IMTA, relevant institutions in Nice, France, relevant Chinese institutions in France, and international organizations will make wonderful addresses and give high-level speeches. At the theme forum, representatives from international tourism organizations, tourism-related institutions and enterprises of related countries, and experts and scholars will propose forward-looking and guiding opinions and solutions based on challenges brought by climate change to mountain tourism, ice-snow tourism and other aspects, as well as the interrelationship between sustainable tourism and climate change. In the afternoon, a Mountain Tourism Promotion & Sino-European Entrepreneurs Exchange Conference will be held to build a platform for exchange and cooperation between mountain tourism industry in China and Europe. With the purpose of exploring models and paths for multi-field and multi-level business cooperation, IMTA will exchange MOU with the International Nordic Walking Federation (INWA), World Association for Hospitality and Tourism Education and Training (AMFORHT), and SAS Maxi Event's FRANCE.
Recently, Serge Koenig, a professor from Ecole Nationale de Ski et d'Alpinisme (ENSA) and an expert from IMTA, and Yang Xiaohua, a mountaineering coach from China, successfully summited Mont Blanc on behalf of the IMTA. According to information, this is one of a series of events of "International Mountain Tourism Day 2024". Following the successful summit of Mount Everest with the "International Mountain Tourism Day" flag on May 29, 2019, the summit of the highest peak in Western Europe in 2024 symbolizes the contemporary move of mountain tourism in the two countries going forward hand in hand with courage. It not only aligns with the sportsmanship spirit of the Paris Olympics but also vividly reflects the synergy and interaction between sports and mountain tourism, symbolizing the ongoing, upward and forward friendship between the Chinese and French people.
Serge Koenig (right) and Yang Xiaohua successfully summited Mont Blanc, France. Image source: IMTA.
In order to deepen international friendly exchanges and promote understanding and respect of different cultures, IMTA will host the "Nice Night" Dinner and the Mountain Community & Art Exhibition. The fusion of traditional Chinese Miao and Dong ethnic songs, dances, Western orchestral music, and the interaction between global mountainous natural scenery and humanistic life, will surely bring unique experiences to the guests. During the event, the Global Initiative of "Mutual Understanding among People through Mountain Tourism" will also be released. Relying on mutual learning among civilizations, the inheritance of mountain civilization will be empowered with new connotations of the era and will contribute to enhancing the integration and mutual understanding of world civilizations.
Dong Grand Choir of Guizhou, China. Image source: IMTA, photographed by Wang Xiao.
The "International Mountain Tourism Day" is an international commemorative day initiated and established by IMTA in 2018. At present, it has become an international platform for the global tourism industry and IMTA members to jointly cultivate, participate in, and benefit from. It is an institutional brand for IMTA to participate in the establishment of a global tourism governance system. IMTA will start with "International Mountain Tourism Day" to promote innovation of the "Mountain Tourism Plus" model, facilitate the development of the global tourism industry, and join hands with others in the industry to work together to build a sustainable tourism community a with shared future.