Mongolian Minister of Environment and Tourism Bat-Ulzii Bat-Erdene is seen during an interview with Xinhua in Ulan Bator on May 24, 2022. (Photo by Suriya/Xinhua)
Mongolia has set a goal of welcoming 1 million foreign tourists and earning 1 billion U.S. dollars from tourism in 2024, said the minister.
ULAN BATOR, June 1 (Xinhua) -- As part of its goal to promote the tourism sector, Mongolia aims to develop cross-border tourism with its neighbors -- China and Russia, Mongolian Minister of Environment and Tourism Bat-Ulzii Bat-Erdene has said.
"In particular, we are working to create legal conditions for the development of cross-border tourism with neighboring China and Russia, and to create 72-hour cross-border tourism zones," Bat-Erdene told Xinhua in a recent interview.
Mongolia has set a goal of welcoming 1 million foreign tourists and earning 1 billion U.S. dollars from tourism in 2024, said the minister, adding the Asian country plans to set 2023 and 2024 as "Years to Visit Mongolia" to promote the pandemic-hit tourism sector.
Mongolia has also been considering exempting visa requirements for a list of 11 countries, Bat-Erdene said.
Given the fact that the Asian country's tourism is seasonal, the minister said Mongolia has attached great importance to developing winter tourism to boost its tourism industry.
"Therefore, we are considering the issue of upgrading our local airports to international 4C4 rating, developing winter business tourism, and hosting major international events, such as conferences in Mongolia in winter," Bat-Erdene said.
Meanwhile, Mongolia is exploring the possibility of receiving transit flights at the new Chinggis Khaan International Airport near Ulan Bator.
"What this means is that Mongolia wants to be the main bridge and transit point connecting Asian countries such as China, South Korea and Japan with Europe and others," said the minister.
With its economy largely dependent on export earnings from the mining sector, Mongolia has been making efforts to diversify its economy, notably through revitalizing the tourism sector. ■
