Guiyang, Guizhou Province, hosted the 2025 International Conference of Mountain Tourism and Outdoor Sports on November 11, 2025, bringing together over 350 delegates from 30 countries and regions to explore the future of sustainable mountain tourism.
Centred on the theme Integration of Culture, Tourism and Sports Presents a High-Quality Life, the event underscored China’s growing role in promoting mountain tourism as a driver of cultural exchange, outdoor recreation, and rural revitalisation.
The conference programme included the International Mountain Tourism Alliance (IMTA) Annual Conference, the International Mountain Tourism Promotion Conference (IMTPC), field visits to Guizhou’s mountain attractions, and the Bank of Guizhou – Mountain Culture, Tourism and Outdoor Sport Equipment Exhibition.
Opening speakers included IMTA chairman Dominique de Villepin and senior Guizhou officials. IMTA also signed cooperation agreements with PATA, Everest Alliance Nepal, and the Department of Culture and Tourism of Hubei Province.
A new publication, Innovation in Mountain Tourism and Community Co-development, was released and certificates were awarded to eight World Famous Tourism Mountains and six International Mountain Hiking Tourism Demonstration Routes.
Fifteen new members also joined IMTA.
The IMTPC, themed Promote Mountain Prosperity and Create Shared Brilliance, featured presentations from IMTA vice chairman Liu Zhaohui, FAO project coordinator Giorgio Grussu, and PATA chairman Peter Semone, who introduced research on strategies to expand Guizhou’s inbound tourism from Asia-Pacific markets. Delegates from several countries shared updates on mountain tourism initiatives and sustainable practices.
Complementing the discussions, the exhibition showcased the latest innovations in mountain tourism and outdoor sports equipment, while the photography display Life Amid the Earth’s Folds celebrated the natural beauty and cultural diversity of mountain communities worldwide.
The post-conference field trip to the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge offered delegates a first-hand look at Guizhou’s pioneering approach to integrating tourism with sustainable infrastructure, reinforcing the province’s position as a model for mountain tourism development.
