(15 August 2023) The second session of the National Committee for Tourism Development took place yesterday.
It was attended by Prime Minister and Committee chair L. Oyun-Erdene, Minister of Environment and Tourism B. Bat-Erdene, Minister of Culture Ch. Nomin, Governor of the Capital and Mayor of Ulaanbaatar D. Sumiyabazar, and representatives of tourism businesses and NGOs.
The session reviewed progress and results of work in the tourism sector, outstanding issues, and highlights of the “Years to Visit Mongolia” announced by the Government.
Temporary campsites along tourist routes, roadside service complexes and standard-compliant sanitary facilities were also raised.
Estimates show that roadside service complexes are needed at 69 locations 170–250 km apart. Of these complexes and rest stops, one is fully operational and four are due to be completed in 2023. Of a possible 118 campsites at scenic sites, 34 have been built.
To prevent soil pollution, 2,523 pit latrines not meeting the standard were identified in the tourism zones of 21 provinces under the “Years to Visit Mongolia”; in 2022–2023, 1,613 were removed and 502 eco-toilets and dry sanitary facilities were built to the MNS 5924:2015 standard.
D. Sumiyabazar, Governor of the Capital and Mayor of Ulaanbaatar, said: “Ulaanbaatar is the core of Mongolia’s economy. In line with the Prime Minister’s ‘Years to Visit Mongolia’ initiative we are developing summer and winter tourism intensively and implementing sector-development policies on an unprecedented scale.”
“We also need to attract large-scale investment to Ulaanbaatar and solve its congestion and air pollution; otherwise winter tourism and city tourism will struggle to develop. Tourism zones around the city must be developed, and the disorderly allocation of land and unauthorised fencing and construction brought to order,” he said.
He added: “The ingredients, advantages and instructions of domestically produced goods should be written on labels in several languages. It seems a small thing, but it is what confuses tourists most.”
The peak tourism season is May to October, when 71 per cent of tourists arrive; for winter tourism, research shows 10.2 per cent arrive in November–December and 18.8 per cent in January–April.
Source: Governor’s Office of the Capital