From October 29 to November 3, 2024, the General Assembly of the Union of International Mountain Leader Associations (UIMLA) was held in Skopje, Macedonia. This year, the event marked its 20th anniversary under the organization’s current name.

This General Assembly of UIMLA was significant for many reasons. Apart from being a jubilee event, it was notable for the adoption of new strategic documents during the sessions: the Standard for Access, Training, and Professional Practice of International Mountain Leaders (commonly referred to as the UIMLA Standard) and the document outlining the organization's policy for continuous professional development, known as the UIMLA CPD Policy. These documents were adopted with unanimous support from all delegates, demonstrating a new, collaborative, and progressive energy within the organization.

For us as hosts, it was of immense importance that nearly all delegates and members of the UIMLA Executive Board rated this General Assembly as the best-organized to date. This recognition further confirms the quality, maturity, and work standards of the Macedonian Association of International Mountain Leaders (MKAIML).

Another point of pride is that we organized this event entirely independently—logistically, organizationally, and financially—through the resources of MKAIML and the Mountain Academy Mavrovo Center for Education, Science, and Research, without financial support from institutions, donors, or sponsors. This achievement underscores that we can represent Macedonia, our professional mountain leaders, and our organization not only as meeting global standards but also as trendsetters in our field internationally.

Whether we are acknowledged and utilized by domestic institutions responsible for tourism is less critical for us after this assembly. The international mountain tourism professional community has given us the highest recognition, so we are well aware of our value and contributions to domestic and international mountain tourism.

A key highlight for our country, our organization, and the region was the acceptance of the professional mountain leader organization from Kosovo into the UIMLA family as a candidate country, following the usual membership procedure. Kosovar mountain leaders were trained at the Mountain Academy Mavrovo and certified by MKAIML, with their organization operating under our full support and mentorship. This demonstrates our commitment to regional cooperation and mutual assistance, showcasing that only through collaboration can we integrate into the developed world.

MKAIML has demonstrated this commitment unequivocally and hopes to inspire the broader social community, institutions, and the tourism sector to prioritize principles of quality, cooperation, and a long-term vision for the future of the sector, the country, and the region.

During the first day of the assembly, following the working sessions, an International Night was held at Hotel Leonardo, featuring food tastings from various countries, a longstanding tradition among UIMLA member states.

On November 2, a Macedonian Night was organized at Skarabar Restaurant, showcasing traditional Macedonian cuisine, wine, music, and folklore, providing a unique presentation of our cultural heritage.

On November 3, a hiking tour was organized to Ljuboten Mountain Hut, where delegates had the pleasure of exploring the oldest mountain hut in Macedonia and learning about the Ljuboten Mountaineering Club from Tetovo.

The organizing committee of the Jubilee General Assembly expresses its deep gratitude to Tikveš Winery, Skarabar Restaurant, Hotel Leonardo, Ljuboten Mountaineering Club from Tetovo, and Nashe Taxi for their professionalism and heartfelt cooperation.

Although the impressions from the assembly are still fresh, both among us and the delegates, we are already considering organizing another international event within the UIMLA community.