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Director-General QU Dongyu

FAO Director-General highlights importance of mountain tourism at Rome’s Quirinale Palace

09/12/2021

Rome – Mountain tourism needs to be more sustainable and equitable, said the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), QU Dongyu, at a high-level event hosted by His Excellency Sergio Mattarella, President of the Italian Republic at the Quirinale Palace, which was attended by Ministers and representatives of local authorities from mountain regions of Italy, ahead of International Mountain Day.

The Director-General addressed participants, including the Italian Minister for Regional Affairs, Mariastella Gelmini, and the President of the National Park of Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise, Giovanni Cannata, at the official residency of the President of Italy.

The event was held to mark International Mountain Day on 11 December, which aims to step up action for the sustainable development of mountains worldwide. 

“Tourism is one of the most-affected sectors by the COVID-19 pandemic, and for this reason this year’s theme is an important opportunity to rethink mountain tourism. Effective tourism management in mountains can increase household incomes, contribute to landscape and biodiversity conservation, and support resilient and sustainable agrifood systems,” Qu said.

“We need to develop sustainable “agri-turismo (tourism)” that values, respects and protects the unique natural, cultural and traditional heritage of mountain communities,” he said.

Qu also took the opportunity to thank the Government of Italy for the strong collaboration, long vision and continued commitment to the Mountain Partnership, which was established by FAO and the Government of Italy, together with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Government of Switzerland, in 2002. It is the only United Nations alliance dedicated to improving the lives and livelihood of mountain peoples, and protecting mountain environments. FAO hosts the Secretariat, with the support of the Governments of Italy, Switzerland and Andorra. 

FAO also works to improve the lives and livelihoods of communities in mountainous areas through many other initiatives, including the Sustainable Mountain Development Programme and the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems.