From March 29th to 31st, the “International Conference on Mountain Tourism and Sustainable Development of National Parks 2024” was successfully held at Sichuan Tourism University. The conference, themed “Mountain Tourism and Sustainable Development of National Parks”, aimed to strengthen the exchange and cooperation among domestic and international scholars in the fields of mountain tourism and national parks, enhance the depth and breadth of academic research, and provide strong support for the sustainable development of related industries. The conference attracted over 200 experts and scholars from well-known universities, research institutions, and representatives from the tourism industry at home and abroad. The President of the university, Wang Chuan, met with the attending guests and engaged in in-depth discussions.

Professor Erwei Dong from New York University chaired the conference on the 29th. Wang Chong, Vice President of Sichuan Tourism University, attended the meeting and delivered a speech. He first extended a warm welcome to experts and scholars from home and abroad, briefly introduced the situation in relevant fields of the university, and looked forward to experts and scholars using the platform provided by SCTU to jointly explore new paths and models for the sustainable development of mountain tourism and national parks, share successful experiences and practices, and contribute wisdom and strength to the prosperity and development of the global tourism industry.

During the keynote speech, experts and scholars delivered a series of excellent speeches on the conference theme. Professor Bao Jigang, the founding dean of the School of Tourism at Sun Yat-sen University, gave a speech titled “Tourism Poverty Alleviation Project in China: the Azheke Plan and Its Implications” analyzing the significant role of tourism poverty alleviation in promoting the economic and social development of mountainous areas. Professor Wu Chengzhao, the director of the National Park and Nature Reserve Planning Research Center at Tongji University’s College of Architecture and Urban Planning, explored the “Health Value of Recreation Affordance in National Parks” emphasizing the positive role of national parks in improving public health. Additionally, Dr. Wang Songping, former Director of the Tibet Autonomous Region Tourism Development Department, Ms. Bonnie Lippitt, former Director of Tourism and Interpretation Programs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management, Professor Christopher Gaffney from New York University, Professor Sheranne Fairley from the University of Queensland in Australia, Professor Jasmine Cardozo Moreira from the State University of Ponta Grossa in Brazil, and Professor Robert Burns from the University of Virginia, as well as Professor Liu Yong from Sichuan Tourism University, delivered brilliant speeches on topics such as mountain protection in the Pacific Northwest of the United States and regenerative tourism in mountain environments.

In the thematic forum, renowned experts and scholars such as Professor Zheng Xiangmin from Huaqiao University and Professor Ming Qingzhong from Yunnan University of Finance and Economics convened eight specialized discussions on topics including “National Parks and Outdoor Recreation”, “Mountain Tourism and Adventure Culture”, “Sustainable Development of Mountain Tourism”, “Mountain Tourism Safety”, “Mountain Tourism and Green Low-carbon”, “Sichuan-Tibet Tourism and Modern Transportation”, “Sichuan-Tibet Tourism and Community Participation” and “High-quality Development of Mountain Sports Tourism”. The forums brought together numerous domestic and international experts and scholars to engage in in-depth exchanges and discussions on relevant issues, sharing the latest research results and practical experiences.

This conference also featured a special workshop on SSCI journal papers. The workshop invited editors from internationally renowned academic journals Leisure Studies and Leisure Sciences, Professor Robert Burns from New York University, and Professor Sheranne Fairley from the University of Queensland in Australia, to provide detailed guidance and answers on writing, submitting, reviewing, and accepting SSCI academic journal papers. This session provided participants with a rare opportunity for academic exchange and learning.

Experts and scholars at the conference delved into the hot topics of mountain tourism and national park development. They unanimously agreed that promoting the sustainable development of mountain tourism and national parks requires balancing and coordinating aspects such as ecological environment protection, cultural inheritance and innovation, community participation, and shared interests. At the same time, it is necessary to strengthen international cooperation and exchanges, draw on international advanced experiences and technological means, and jointly promote the prosperous development of global mountain tourism and national parks.

The successful hosting of this conference not only provided a platform for domestic and international scholars to showcase research results and exchange academic ideas but also injected new momentum into the development of mountain tourism and national parks in China. Many participants expressed that through the exchanges and discussions, they further deepened their understanding of and insights into the sustainable development of mountain tourism and national parks, gained valuable inspirations, formed more consensus and cooperation intentions, and believed that it would greatly promote future research and work.

The organizer, Sichuan Tourism University, will continue to leverage its strengths in tourism research, strengthen cooperation and exchanges with domestic and foreign universities and research institutions, promote the in-depth development of research on mountain tourism and national parks, and take this opportunity to further enhance the level of education and research at the university, making greater contributions to the cultivation of more outstanding tourism talents and the prosperous development of the tourism industry.