With reindeer sleigh rides, camel races and stunning landscapes with plenty of room to roam, Mongolia hopes to attract visitors who truly want to get away from it all.
Like most countries, the tourism industry has been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic. To win people back, the country has launched a “Welcome to Mongolia” campaign. The government has offered additional flights and simplified the visa process, allowing visa-free visits to many countries.
At least 437,000 foreign tourists came in the first seven months of this year, 25 percent more than in the same period last year. The tourists, who increasingly came from Europe, the USA and Japan, also include an increasing number from South Korea. The number of visitors from South Korea has almost doubled.
Despite these successes, the Mongolian government has still not reached its goal of welcoming one million visitors per year between 2023 and 2025.
Tailor-made itineraries include horseback riding and camping trips with the option to stay in yurts, the felt-covered dwellings still used by Mongolia’s cattle herders today.
There is little risk of encountering private property, so only a few places are closed, she said.
“You don’t have to open a gate, you don’t need anyone’s permission,” she said, sitting in front of a map of Mongolia on which the routes were marked with pins and thread.
“We are something like the last truly nomadic culture on the planet,” she added.
Yet many people know little about Mongolia. American tourist Michael John said he knew a bit about the history of Genghis Khan and had seen a documentary about eagles used by hunters before deciding to stop in Ulaanbaatar as part of an extended vacation.
“It was a great opportunity to learn more,” said the 40-year-old.
Tourism accounted for 7.2 percent of Mongolia’s gross domestic product and 7.6 percent of jobs in 2019 before collapsing due to the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the World Bank. However, the organization noted that Mongolia has “significant growth potential” that it can exploit, with “diverse nature and stunning landscapes” as well as opportunities for sports and adventure tourism.
These themes are at the heart of Mongolia’s tourism promotion, offering beautiful views of frozen lakes in winter for skating and fishing, the Northern Lights, and events such as reindeer sleigh rides and horseback riding, camel racing and hiking.
Munkhjargal Dayan offers rides on two-humped Bactrian camels, traditional archery and the opportunity to have hunting eagles sit on a visitor’s arm.
The weather is great, the landscape is more than great, it is clean, the people are friendly
“We want to show tourists from other countries that we have such a way of life in Mongolia,” he said as he waited for customers next to a giant statue of Genghis Khan on the outskirts of Ulaanbaatar.
Foreigners can also easily get lost as there are hardly any signs in English, says Dutch tourist Jasper Koning. Nevertheless, he said he enjoyed his trip very much.
“The weather is great, the scenery is more than great, it is clean, the people are friendly,” he said.
