On 29 May, the “International Mountain Tourism Day 2023” theme events titled “Enjoy the Wonder of Mountains, Share the Beauty of Life, Revitalize the Tourism Industry” kicked off in Vientiane, Laos. The events were jointly organized by Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism of Lao PDR (MICT), International Mountain Tourism Alliance (IMTA), Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), and Global Tourism Economy Forum (GTEF), and supported by World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), ASEAN-China Center (ACC), China NGO Network for International Exchanges (CNIE), Guizhou Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism and Foreign Affairs Office. Over 250 guests from international organizations, IMTA members, and tourism institutions, culture and tourism enterprises, experts and scholars, and global media workers from Laos and other countries, gathered together to discuss the supply, market development, and solutions of mountain tourism facing the new consumer demands, explore the system of mountain tourism cooperation and governance within the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) framework, and jointly facilitate the full recovery, opening and interaction of the tourism market. Guests, from various perspectives, offered constructive and forward-looking insights on the new-stage innovation and regional development of mountain tourism. The events has aroused widespread concern in the international tourism industry.
During the opening ceremony, Ounethouang Khaophanh: Vice Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism of Laos delivered a speech.
Source: IMTA
The “International Mountain Tourism Day 2023” theme events, with the theme of “Enjoy the Wonder of Mountains, Share the Beauty of Life, Revitalize the Tourism Industry”, was held in Vientiane, Laos. As the spokesperson of the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism of Laos (MICT), I am honored to co-host this event with the International Mountain Tourism Alliance!
The first "International Mountain Tourism Day" event was held in Nepal on May 29, 2019, which is an important step in the cooperation of international mountain tourism activities. The common goal is to establish a cooperation and exchange platform for mutual understanding, solidarity, equal cooperation, reciprocity and mutual benefit through the "International Mountain Tourism Day" event. Laos will start the Tourism Year (Year of Visiting Laos) in 2024, and will take the rotating presidency of ASEAN in 2024. The "International Mountain Tourism Day" this year, with the theme of "Enjoy the Wonder of Mountains, Share the Beauty of Life, Revitalize the Tourism Industry", is an important event to promote the development of tourism. We hope to attract tourists from all over the world to Laos to experience natural, cultural, and historical sites. Here, on behalf of the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism of Laos (MICT), I would like to express my gratitude to the International Mountain Tourism Alliance.
At present, the global tourism industry has accelerated its recovery after the outbreak of COVID-19. The opening of the Laos-China Railway is considered as one of the main trends to promote multilateral travel. The Laos-China Railway from Laos to Kunming, China has given tourists more choices to visit the two countries. The Railway has become an economic link between China and Laos, contributing to the economic development of Laos, helping Laos attract more and more regional and international tourists, as well as promoting international tourism, encouraging transport services, promoting Laos' tourism to connect China and the rest of the world, and turning Laos into a world tourist destination. Based on these trends, friends from all over the world are welcome to experience the unique charm of Laos. I firmly believe that traditional and rich culture and superior natural resources will attract more tourists from all over the world to Laos.
In this event, we also held the theme forum of "Enjoy the Wonder of Mountains, Share the Beauty of Life, Revitalize the Tourism Industry" and the Asian Mountain Tourism Promotion Conference for everyone to exchange information and promote tourism products. The event also launched a variety of tourism products, invited guests and media to learn about Laos' tourist attractions through the exhibition area, to feel Chinese and Lao handicrafts, culture and tourism products, and helped promote Laos' culture and tourism.
Once again, on behalf of the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism of Laos, I would like to express our sincere gratitude to the International Mountain Tourism Alliance for choosing Laos as the host and organizer of the International Mountain Tourism Day 2023 themed events.
