ULAN BATOR, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia has welcomed a record 680,711 foreign tourists since the beginning of 2024, hitting a record high, the government's press office said on Thursday.
In response to the encouraging trend, Prime Minister Luvsannamsrai Oyun-Erdene has urged relevant organizations to intensify efforts to increase to 1 million by the end of 2024. He emphasized the importance of developing year-round tourism to attract visitors throughout all seasons.
To diversify its mining-dependent economy, Mongolia has actively promoted tourism as a vital sector. The government initially designated 2023-2025 as the "Years to Visit Mongolia," aiming to attract at least 1 million foreign tourists annually.
On Wednesday, the government announced an extension of the initiative until 2028, in an effort to enhance the tourism industry.
Mongolia's tourism sector is seasonal, influenced by its strongly continental climate, which features long, frigid winters and short summers. To leverage the seasonality, the country has focused on developing winter tourism by organizing ice and snow events.
In 2023, Mongolia received over 650,000 foreign tourists and generated 1.2 billion U.S. dollars from tourism, achieving an all-time high. ■
