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 background that the global tourism industry is still facing epidemic crisis and other complex situations, 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.
Korea-China's Friendship Association：Celebration of 2022 International Mountain Tourism Day
Distinguished fellows, I am Qu Huan, the president of the Korea-China's Friendship Association, I am sending my greetings to you in Seoul.
First, I want to sincerely congratulate on the grand and successful opening of the 2022 International Mountain Tourism Day Events in May when everything is flourishing. As a member who joined the International Mountain Tourism Alliance since its founding as well as the tourism cultural ambassador from Guizhou province. I would like to further express my gratitude for the IMTA to offer such a friendly platform allowing us to gather through cloud conference, and talk about mountains while enjoying the pleasure brought by mountains. Finally, I would like to extend my respect and gratitude to all heroes in the alliance who worked behind scenes for organizing this theme events.
Korea is a country where mountains occupy 70% of its whole land area and where people have a close relationship with mountains. To Korean people, the mountain is as sacred as God and as close as relatives. Korean people can be so in awe of mountains and yet they depend on them in their daily lives. The first sentences of two paragraphs of the Korean anthem start with Baekdusan and Namsan respectively. In Korea, from the palace, schools to factories and residences are all built between mountains. Friends go climbing mountains together, lovers go to mountains for their dates. Schools arrange for students to experience life in the mountains， corporations choose mountains as their meeting venues to discuss businesses and parents go to temples located in the middle of the mountains for good grades for their children. The residence of the newly elected president sits in Yongsan. The Gyeongbokgung Palace situated at the center of Seoul and the former president’s residence Cheongwadae both face the back of the Bugaksan. Naksan is on the left side of Korea while on the right side is Inwangsan. Even in the Korean language, the ancestral grave is called the pre-san. Today, the picture behind me is about the Hallasan in Jeju Island. In Korea, people hold a close relationship with the mountains and lead a healthy life perfectly in harmony with the ecological environment. At the same time, Korea has devoted itself to mountain economy development and promoting outdoor tourism industry. The fact that Korea ranked first in the world in terms of outdoor-related products sales serves as a strong example.
Our association looks forward to joining hands with the alliance to hold various mountain-themed activities to protect mountain resources, preserve mountain civilization, promote mountain economy and bring benefits to people living in mountainous regions. We want to further promote sustainable mountain tourism development as well as enhance multiple practical cooperation projects between global tourism management and cultural exchanges.
Again, I would like to congratulate on the success of the 2022 International Mountain Tourism Day Theme Events. Through this platform, I want to propose that when Korea has the honor to hold the next theme events. We sincerely want to invite people who helped me to establish a close relationship with mountains as well as dear friends of the alliance to come to Korea to enjoy tea together, savor wine on mountains, sing mountain-related songs, and recite poems describing the mountains. We could discuss how to achieve mountain economy growth and strengthen our friendship. I will be waiting for you in Korea. Thank you.
