The global mountain tourism industry is expected to see annual growth rates of 6.5% for tourist numbers and 10% for revenue between 2024 and 2026, with projections reaching 1.474 billion tourists and USD 1.82 trillion in revenue by 2026 (2023 IMTA report). Mountain tourism in the Asia-Pacific is well placed to capitalise on this growth with recent uplifts in camping, trekking, and eco-tourism in the post-COVID era. This collaboration between the International Mountain Tourism Association (IMTA) and the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) brings together the world’s leading experts on mountain tourism to explore the future of mountain tourism in the Asia-Pacific.
What You'll Learn:
The latest opportunities in Asia-Pacific Mountain Tourism including for sustainable travel, potential for off-season travel and the increasing application of AI and other digital technologies;
The constraints facing Asia-Pacific Mountain Tourism, including climate change, remoteness and workforce capacity constraints in emerging destinations;
How the European mountain tourism experience can inform development of Asia-Pacific Mountain Tourism; and,
Key case studies of mountain tourism destinations in the Asia-Pacific from different countries and at different stages of development.
Wednesday, January 22, 2025, 4 PM Singapore (8 AM London | 1:30 PM India | 3 PM Bangkok | 7 PM Sydney | 9 PM Auckland)
Speakers:
Peter Semone, Chair, PATA; Founder & President, Destination Human Capital Limited
Peter is a leading tourism expert in Asia and the Pacific. He currently serves as Chairman of the Pacific Asia Travel Association and is engaged as team leader, strategist and institutional specialist for a project at the United Nations World Tourism Organization. Peter recently completed a five year assignment as Chief of Party of the USAID-funded Tourism for All project in Timor-Leste. Read more
Mark Panayiotis Notaras, Founder, Timor-Leste Food Lab
Mark is the Founder of the Timor-Leste Food Lab and its flagship restaurant Agora Food Studio where he developed the post-conflict nation’s first generation of tourism and hospitality entrepreneurs. Mark has pioneered innovative approaches to activating indigenous and traditional cuisine in emerging and challenging tourism destinations, including through the Timor-Leste Food Innovators Exchange (TLFIX). Read more
Professor Francesco Frangialli, Honourary Secretary General, UN Tourism
Francesco is the honorary Secretary General of UN Tourism and former Director General of Tourism for France. A civil servant, author, and expert in economy, public law, and political science, he is a graduate of the prestigious French Ecole Nationale d’Administration (ENA). He has served as non-executive Chairman of AMFOHRT, Board member of the International Hotel and Restaurant Association (IHRA), Board member of the French public company SSIT, and President of the UNTWO STEP Foundation in Seoul. Read more
Armelle Solelhac, Founder & CEO, SWiTCH
With a master’s in business law from the University of Grenoble Alpes and a Specialized master’s in marketing & communication from ESCP Business School (Paris), Armelle Solelhac set out in 2005 to tour the world's ski resorts for 2 years. She visited 280 ski areas in 27 countries across 5 continents. Upon her return, she founded SWiTCH, a branding and ESG strategy consulting firm specializing in tourism and outdoor sports, based in Annecy (France) and Los Angeles (USA). Read more