Events

International Mountain Day (IMD)

From: 11.12.2021 to: 11.12.2021

International Mountain Day (IMD) is celebrated around the world every year on 11 December. The day is a chance to raise awareness about the importance of mountains to life, to highlight opportunities and challenges in mountain development, and to build alliances that will bring positive change to mountain peoples and environments around the world.

The theme of this year’s IMD celebration, "Sustainable mountain tourism," highlights the potential of sustainable tourism to support and progress local economies, preserve natural and cultural heritage, and conserve landscapes and biodiversity in mountains.

Mountain destinations attract a growing number of visitors. While tourism is one of the sectors that has been most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic – with an immense impact on economies and livelihoods on all continents – visits to open air, less crowded, domestic destinations have increased, opening new opportunities for mountain tourism.

To ensure the sustainability of mountain tourism it is essential to measure its impact, manage resources and waste, define the carrying capacity of destinations, advance digitalization and invest in sustainable infrastructure and products. The COVID-19 pandemic offers mountain destinations and businesses an opportunity to rethink the products and services they currently offer and aim at a more inclusive and sustainable future.

While "Sustainable mountain tourism" is the suggested theme for 2021, countries, communities and organizations are welcome to celebrate International Mountain Day through their choice of a different theme that might be more relevant to them. The United Nations General Assembly designated 11 December “International Mountain Day” in 2002. IMD has been observed every year since 2003 to raise awareness about the importance of mountains to life and to bring positive change to mountain peoples and environments around the world.

Read more