Editor’s Note

On 29 May, the 2022 International Mountain Tourism Day theme event was held online and themed on “Mountain Tourism Promotes Healthy Life and Cultural Exchange”. The event motivated the New Media network, connected IMTA members, destination agencies, enterprises, and experts from all over the world, and carried out “cloud communication, dialogue, and presentation” around three chapters — “Focus · Mountain”, “Health · Life”, and “Civilization · Communication”. Against the complex global landscape and threat from COVID-19, the event helps create a healthier and more positive atmosphere and market for mountain tourism, promote cultural exchange, friendly communication, and mutual integration among countries, to jointly prepare, build, and share a bright future of mountain tourism. At the event, the International Mountain Tourism Alliance cooperated with its members and industry organizations from 5 continents, more than 30 countries to carry out a variety of activities to show the difference mountain tourism features and jointly celebrated the arrival of the International Mountain Tourism Day.

Manawa Honey and Tours New Zealand：Celebration of 2022 International Mountain Tourism Day

Greetings to you all from Aotearoa, New Zealand, I’m Brenda Tahi, CEO of Manawa Honey and Tours New Zealand.

We’re based here in our village in Ruatahuna which is located in the heart of the vast mountainous region. Our tribal homeland, Te Urewera, at the heart of the North Island of New Zealand. We produce premium honeys from the forest and our mountains, including international award-winning Manuka honey and Tawari honey. And then we've got Rewarewa honey, the base tasting honey in the world. We run a range of tours for visitors to our region, hikes in our mountains and down river, horse trips and tours about honey and the beehive in our apiaries.

In our view, mountain tourism is a particularly exciting way to take a holiday or to experience a region. The activities can suit adrenaline seekers and the sites can be most scenic. But for us, the most rewarding part of our mountain tourism operation is the sharing of our culture and way of life with our visitors. The warmth and depth of connecting with other people is what makes our tours so special for us. So, we are honored to be part of the International Mountain Tourism Alliance and to be celebrating with you all International Mountain Tourism Day.

Mountain tourism has many benefits. It supports otherwise depressed and isolated small economies. It can help preserve the distinctive cultures of mountainous regions. And it takes people into cross cultural connections that can promote harmony and understanding across the globe.

And from our mountains in Aotearoa, New Zealand, we reach out to the mountains across the world to celebrate International Mountain Tourism on this special day in 2022.