Tourism in Mongolia
Encyclopedia
Tourism in Mongolia was extremely limited by the Communist Government, but has been expanding following the 1990 Democratic Revolution in Mongolia
in the wake of the collapse of the USSR and the Revolutions of 1989
. Mongolia is a unique and relatively unexplored travel destination that offers a great combination of scenic natural features, a wide variety of untouched landscapes, nomadic life style and culture. Travel organizations in Mongolia date back to half a century ago, but the private sector-based tourism is barely twenty years old. Now Mongolia boasts 403 travel companies, 320 hotels, 317 resorts and tourist camps, all employing the graduates from over 56 educational establishments. Mongolia takes an active part in United Nations World Tourism Organization, of which is a member party.
To boost foreign investment in tourism, the Government of Mongolia offers up to special tax exemption equaling to 10 percent of the total investment if offered for construction of high-rated hotels and tourist complexes. Licenses for tourism business were abolished and service provided by tour operators for expatriate visitors is now exempt from VAT. Standards and regulations are largely non-restrictive, with no complicated layers of bureaucracy issuing permission and exercising control. A vivid example of the successful reform of the legal framework is the progressive increase of the number of visitors – the number reaching 450 thousand in 2010 tripling the 2000 estimate.
With one of the world’s lowest population densities, Mongolian vast areas of wilderness, desert, mountains and lakes offer plenty of adventures. Although backpacking travel is now becoming more common, travel outside the capital is mostly arranged by tour operator companies. Activity travels available include trekking, climbing, bird watching, horse riding, rafting, camel riding, yak caravan and overland motorcycle tours. Many of these tours focus strongly on ecology and wildlife, and almost all of them include the Gobi Desert as one of their destinations; apart from its numerous native animal species, the desert is famous for its fossilised dinosaur bones and eggs. Mongolia’s lakes represent another good hiking destination, as do the Four Holy Peaks surrounding Ulaanbaatar or the Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park, in the Umnugobi.
The economy of Mongolia
is expecting "unstoppable" growth as its natural resources
are tapped, which will enable further investment in infrastructure
.
, which has been organised for centuries and is held on July 11 to July 13 in honor of the Democratic Revolution
. Naadam consists of three Mongolian traditional sports: archery
, long-distance horse-racing, and Mongolian wrestling
.
Other events include:
1990 Democratic Revolution in Mongolia
The 1990 Peaceful Democratic Revolution in Mongolia was a democratic revolution that started with hunger strikes to overthrow the Mongolian People's Republic and eventually moved towards the democratic present day Mongolia and the writing of the new constitution. It was spearheaded by mostly...
in the wake of the collapse of the USSR and the Revolutions of 1989
Revolutions of 1989
The Revolutions of 1989 were the revolutions which overthrew the communist regimes in various Central and Eastern European countries.The events began in Poland in 1989, and continued in Hungary, East Germany, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia and...
. Mongolia is a unique and relatively unexplored travel destination that offers a great combination of scenic natural features, a wide variety of untouched landscapes, nomadic life style and culture. Travel organizations in Mongolia date back to half a century ago, but the private sector-based tourism is barely twenty years old. Now Mongolia boasts 403 travel companies, 320 hotels, 317 resorts and tourist camps, all employing the graduates from over 56 educational establishments. Mongolia takes an active part in United Nations World Tourism Organization, of which is a member party.
To boost foreign investment in tourism, the Government of Mongolia offers up to special tax exemption equaling to 10 percent of the total investment if offered for construction of high-rated hotels and tourist complexes. Licenses for tourism business were abolished and service provided by tour operators for expatriate visitors is now exempt from VAT. Standards and regulations are largely non-restrictive, with no complicated layers of bureaucracy issuing permission and exercising control. A vivid example of the successful reform of the legal framework is the progressive increase of the number of visitors – the number reaching 450 thousand in 2010 tripling the 2000 estimate.
With one of the world’s lowest population densities, Mongolian vast areas of wilderness, desert, mountains and lakes offer plenty of adventures. Although backpacking travel is now becoming more common, travel outside the capital is mostly arranged by tour operator companies. Activity travels available include trekking, climbing, bird watching, horse riding, rafting, camel riding, yak caravan and overland motorcycle tours. Many of these tours focus strongly on ecology and wildlife, and almost all of them include the Gobi Desert as one of their destinations; apart from its numerous native animal species, the desert is famous for its fossilised dinosaur bones and eggs. Mongolia’s lakes represent another good hiking destination, as do the Four Holy Peaks surrounding Ulaanbaatar or the Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park, in the Umnugobi.
The economy of Mongolia
Economy of Mongolia
Economic activity in Mongolia has traditionally been based on agriculture and the breeding of livestock. Mongolia also has extensive mineral deposits: copper, coal, molybdenum, tin, tungsten, and gold account for a large part of industrial production...
is expecting "unstoppable" growth as its natural resources
Natural Resources
Natural Resources is a soul album released by Motown girl group Martha Reeves and the Vandellas in 1970 on the Gordy label. The album is significant for the Vietnam War ballad "I Should Be Proud" and the slow jam, "Love Guess Who"...
are tapped, which will enable further investment in infrastructure
Infrastructure
Infrastructure is basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society or enterprise, or the services and facilities necessary for an economy to function...
.
Events
The main festival is world-famousNaadamNaadam
Naadam is a traditional type of festival in Mongolia. The festival is also locally termed "eriin gurvan naadam" "the three games of men". The games are Mongolian wrestling, horse racing and archery and are held throughout the country during the midsummer holidays...
, which has been organised for centuries and is held on July 11 to July 13 in honor of the Democratic Revolution
1990 Democratic Revolution in Mongolia
The 1990 Peaceful Democratic Revolution in Mongolia was a democratic revolution that started with hunger strikes to overthrow the Mongolian People's Republic and eventually moved towards the democratic present day Mongolia and the writing of the new constitution. It was spearheaded by mostly...
. Naadam consists of three Mongolian traditional sports: archery
Archery
Archery is the art, practice, or skill of propelling arrows with the use of a bow, from Latin arcus. Archery has historically been used for hunting and combat; in modern times, however, its main use is that of a recreational activity...
, long-distance horse-racing, and Mongolian wrestling
Mongolian wrestling
Mongolian wrestling, known as Bökh , is the folk wrestling style of Mongols in Mongolia, Inner Mongolia and other regions...
.
Other events include:
- Miss MongoliaMiss MongoliaMiss Mongolia is the beauty contest held in Mongolia to select Mongolia's representatives for Miss World, and Miss Tourism Queen International. The first Miss Mongolia competition took place in 2005. Miss Mongolia pageant's official organizer is Desoft Media company.Each year, approximately twenty...
- beauty pageant to select the country's Miss WorldMiss WorldThe Miss World pageant is the oldest surviving major international beauty pageant. It was created in the United Kingdom by Eric Morley in 1951...
candidate - Eagle festivalEagle festivalThe Eagle festival is an annual festival held in Bayan-Ölgii aimag of Mongolia. In eagle festival, eagle hunters will make a show catching small animals such as fox and hares by their trained eagles....
- held in Bayan-Ölgii, hunters use trained eagles to catch small prey - Tsagaan SarTsagaan SarTsagaan Sar , white moon or white month) is the lunisolar New Year festival of the Mongols. Today, Mongols are found in Mongolia, Inner Mongolia, Buryatia and Kalmykia. It is often celebrated around the same time as the Chinese New Year...
- lunar New Year festival - Goyol Fashion FestivalGoyol Fashion FestivalGoyol is an annual fashion event held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. It started in 1988 and the last 21st event took place on 13-15 of December 2008. Foreign designers and models participate in the show since 2000. The grand prix of Goyol-2007 was won by designer of Gobi company B. Nyamsuren, and model...
See also
- Juulchin Tourism Corporation of Mongolia
- National Museum of Mongolian HistoryNational Museum of Mongolian HistoryNational Museum of Mongolian History is one of the national museums of Mongolia located in the capital Ulan Bator. The National Museum of Mongolian History is a cultural, scientific, and educational organization, which is responsible for the collection, care and interpretation of the objects.The...