Wednesday, May 3, 2023
A new report from the UN agencies, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the Mountain Partnership (MP) makes it clear that while mountain tourism has become an increasingly relevant motivation for travel, data on its size and impact remains scarce.
Mountain tourism accounts for between 9 and 16% of foreign tourist visits globally, amounting to 195 to 375 million visitors in 2019, HNR Hotel New revealed in an article. The article further stated that the scarcity of domestic mountain tourism-related data makes assessing the economic, social, and environmental impacts of this important segment difficult, if not impossible. This new report seeks to fill that information void.
Mountains are home to around 1.1 billion people, some of whom are among the world’s poorest and most remote. Mountains, on the other hand, have long lured travellers interested in nature and open-air places, as well as outdoor activities like as walking, climbing, and winter sports. They also draw visitors because of their diverse biodiversity and strong local cultures.
However, according to the report “Understanding and Quantifying Mountain Tourism”, the ten most mountainous countries (in terms of average height above sea level) received only 8% of international tourist arrivals worldwide in 2019, the most recent year for which figures are available.
Mountain tourism, when managed responsibly, has the ability to increase local community incomes while also preserving their natural resources and culture. And, according to FAO, UNWTO, and MP, measuring the number of visitors to mountains is the first critical step towards realising the sector’s potential.
“With the right data, we can better control the dispersal of visitor flows, support adequate planning, improve knowledge on visitor patterns, build sustainable products in line with consumer needs, and create suitable policies that will foster sustainable development and make sure tourism activities benefit local communities,” FAO Director-General QU Dongyu and UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili stated.
The study, which was based on research conducted in 46 nations, found that the primary motives for mountain tourism growth include providing economic advantages, creating chances for local populations, and developing sustainable goods. Mountain tourism was also highlighted as a tool to assist spead tourism flows, address seasonality, and supplement existing tourist attractions.
Through the report, FAO, UNWTO, and MP emphasise the importance of collaborative efforts involving public and private stakeholders from across the value chain to improve data collection, standardisation, and delivery in order to gain a more comprehensive assessment of mountain tourism in terms of volumes and impacts, so that it can be better understood and developed to align with the SDGs.
The research also asks for coordinated efforts to promote awareness of the socioeconomic relevance of mountain tourism, as well as targeted policies to create employment, assist small and medium-sized enterprises, and encourage green investments in infrastructure and tourism services.
Its release corresponds with the conclusion of the International Year of Sustainable Mountain Development 2022.
Sunday, April 28, 2024
Sunday, April 28, 2024
Sunday, April 28, 2024
