KATHMANDU: In a significant boost for sustainable adventure tourism, the International Mountain Tourism Alliance (IMTA) and Everest Alliance Nepal (EAN) have signed a multi-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening global and regional cooperation in mountain conservation and responsible tourism.

The MoU, signed on November 11 during the International Conference of Mountain Tourism and Outdoor Sports 2025 in Guizhou, outlines joint initiatives in environmental protection, eco-friendly adventure sports, rescue preparedness, cultural promotion and youth capacity-building.

The partnership will facilitate exchange programmes involving climbers, instructors, rescue experts and technical professionals working in sustainable mountaineering and outdoor safety. Joint rescue demonstrations, environmental safety workshops and leadership trainings will form a core part of the collaboration.

IMTA and EAN will co-organise sustainable climbing expeditions, cultural festivals, international adventure races and mountain tourism conferences. These activities aim to promote cross-cultural understanding while emphasising responsible and low-impact adventure practices.

Knowledge-sharing is another major pillar of the agreement, with both parties committed to collaborating on environmental risk assessments, sustainable adventure management and mentorship programmes for emerging climbers and guides.

Environmental protection campaigns, including mountain clean-up drives, waste management initiatives and trail maintenance, will be undertaken across key mountain regions. Community-focused awareness programmes will address climate change, biodiversity protection and sustainable trekking behaviours.

The MoU was signed alongside several other global cooperation agreements during the conference. The event brought together over 350 representatives from 30 countries and featured keynote sessions, exhibitions and the release of Innovation in Mountain Tourism and Community Co-development. IMTA also honoured notable mountain tourist destinations and international hiking routes with special awards.

EAN said the partnership will strengthen Nepal’s ongoing push toward environmentally responsible mountaineering, while IMTA emphasised the value of combining global expertise with Himalayan field experience.