2023 'International Mountain Tourism Day' Themed Event Opens in Laos
"Connecting the wonders of mountains, sharing a beautiful life, jointly promoting tourism revitalization"
London, June 1, 2023 – On May 29, the 2023 International Mountain Tourism Day kicked off in Vientiane, Laos. The theme of the event was "Connecting the wonders of mountains, sharing a beautiful life, jointly promoting tourism revitalization." The event was organized by the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism of the Lao PDR, the International Mountain Tourism Alliance (IMTA), the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), and the Global Tourism Economy Forum (GTEF), and was supported by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), the ASEAN-China Centre, the Chinese NGO International Exchange Association (CNIE), the Guizhou Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, and the Guizhou Provincial Foreign Affairs Office. The event brought together over 250 participants to discuss mountain tourism supply, market development, and solutions to meet new consumer demands.
Distinguished guests included Ounethouang Khaophanh, Deputy Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism of Laos; Fu Yingchun, Vice Chairman and Executive Secretary-General of the International Mountain Tourism Alliance (IMTA); Phouvong Vongkhamsao, Deputy Mayor of Vientiane, Laos; Zhang Xilong, former First-Level Inspector of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism; Xu Peng, Vice Chairman of the World Tourism Alliance (WTA); Phengchanh Phengmuang, Director General of the Department of Planning and International Cooperation, Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism of the Lao PDR; Chen Ping, Global Vice President of the International Organization of Folk Art (IOV); Darany Phommavongsa, Director General of the Tourism Business Management Department, Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism of Laos; Franka Gulin, Chair of the China Chapter of the European Travel Commission; Inthy Deuansavanh, Member of the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry; and Satoshi Goto, Vice Chairman of the Asian Cave Association. Ounethouang Khaophanh and Fu Yingchun delivered opening remarks. Peter Semone (Chair of PATA), Pansy Ho (Vice Chair of GTEF and IMTA), Zhu Shanzhong (UNWTO Tourism Ambassador), Dou Enyong (Vice President of CNIE), and Shi Zhongjun (Secretary-General of the ASEAN-China Centre) delivered video speeches on behalf of other organizers and international organizations.
Francesco Frangialli (former Secretary-General of the UNWTO), Chen Ping, Franka Gulin, Jin Zhun (Secretary-General of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences), and Song Liguo (Representative of Trip.com Group) delivered keynote speeches. Wu Mai, Deputy Secretary-General of the International Mountain Tourism Alliance, read out the "Vientiane Consensus on Jointly Promoting Tourism Revitalization and Creating a Better Future for the 2023 International Mountain Tourism Day."
Themed activities included an opening ceremony, thematic forums, the Asian Mountain Tourism Promotion Conference, the IMTA "World Famous Mountains Series Recommendation," and exchange meetings, among others.
