11 December: International Mountain Day

Tourism has become the primary source of revenue for many mountain areas, however in the longer term tourism can cause irreparable damage to the environment, and the revenues it generates often do not benefit the communities. That’s why this year’s theme for the International Mountain Day is “Sustainable Tourism for Poverty Alleviation in Mountain Areas”.

Sustainable tourism strives to make a low impact on the environment and local culture, while helping to generate income and employment for local communities. This year’s International Mountain Day is an occasion to heighten awareness about the perils and potentials of tourism in mountain areas and to appeal for sustainable tourism amongst a wide audience (governments, NGOs, UN agencies, private-sector organizations, members of the Mountain Partnership, the public and the media).

Thanks to the successful observance of the UN International Year of Mountains 2002, the UN General Assembly decided to establish the International Mountain Day on 11 December each year to create global awareness of the importance of mountains.

For more information on the International Mountain Day please click here.

To download materials of the 2005 International Mountain Day please click here.