Tourism
From The Report: Mongolia 2013
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Endowed with isolated, unspoilt nature and nomadic Buddhist culture, Mongolia has managed to develop a small but potentially profitable tourism sector that is expanding through support from the government and a focus on the adventure and nature segments. The country’s main sources of genuine leisure tourism over the past decade have been more affluent countries, including Japan, South Korea, North America and Western Europe. Tourist arrival numbers have fluctuated in recent years, although the country continues to attract visitors from across the globe. Some 460,360 tourists arrived in 2011, up 0.9% from 2010. The expansion of tourism may have been overshadowed by fast economic growth, but it remains a tribute to the country’s vibrant private sector and the attractions of the pristine landscape. While the development of new hotel infrastructure in Ulaanbaatar is necessary to cater to growing business travel, the government will certainly need to pay close attention to supporting smaller ecotourism projects and initiatives in the countryside in order to preserve options for tourists.

This chapter contains interviews with Ts. Oyungerel, Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, and U. Jalsa, President and CEO, Nomadic Expeditions.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Utilising strengths: Adapting to new trends in the market
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Endowed with isolated, unspoilt nature and a nomadic Buddhist culture, Mongolia has managed to develop a small but potentially profitable tourism sector, which is expanding through support from the public sector and a growing focus on adventure and nature. Strong mining-led economic growth in the past decade is expected to dilute tourism’s overall share of GDP, however, the total volume of revenue and visitors is set to increase with the state adopting a more proactive role in the sector’s…

Interview

OBG talks to Ts. Oyungerel, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Mongolia
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Interview: Ts. Oyungerel In what way is the government promoting development of the tourism sector? TS. OYUNGEREL: Generally speaking, the government is aiming to encourage a combination of private and community investment. The action plan of the current administration specifies that Mongolia will aim to develop “special-interest tourism” over the next four years, specifically tours related to history, Buddhism, wildlife and bird watching, dinosaurs, sports and adventure, and nomadic lifestyle.…

Interview

OBG talks to U. Jalsa, President & CEO, Nomadic Expeditions
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Interview: U. Jalsa What do you believe still needs to be done to promote Mongolia more effectively? U. JALSA: There are agencies like the National Tourism Organisation and the Mongolian Tourism Association, as well as the newly appointed minister of tourism. It will be important to increase communication between the different entities in order to benefit from each other’s learning curves and come up with the best strategy to market Mongolia more effectively, as it has such a variety to offer.…

Analysis

Heritage branding: The country aims to showcase its rich history and culture
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Tourism authorities are eager to preserve and promote Mongolia’s cultural heritage to tourists both foreign and domestic. Indeed, after some 70 years of relative isolation under Soviet rule, the country’s exotic mix of Buddhism, Soviet interlude, nomadic traditions, shamanism and empire-building history form a culture that authorities are keen to exhibit. “It is crucial for us to analyse why people come to Mongolia and don’t just flock to China as we develop our tourism products: we should…

Analysis

The great outdoors: An intriguing combination of ancient festivals and extreme sports
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Long established as an adventure tourism destination, Mongolia is making a more concerted push to attract travellers seeking sporting activities. The new government is promoting more natural niches like bird-watching and hunting, as well as traditional festivals celebrating activities such as the “three manly sports” of wrestling, archery and horse racing. At the same time, tour operators are seeking to create a range of other niches from fishing to horseback riding in an effort to capitalise…

Analysis

Differentiated packages: Tour operators seek ways to expand their size and operations
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In such a highly seasonal market the break-even point has been challenging for most tour operators to reach. While tourist arrivals have grown over the past decade, the number of operators has surged and only a handful in the sector are able to thrive on the basis of a four-month high season alone. Although new air links may diversify the type and increase the number of tourists, tour agencies face the issue of vertically integrating – by investing in their own infrastructure – just as they…