Mongolia received about 810,000 foreign tourists last year. This is the highest number of tourists received in a year, and the sector contributed 1.6 billion USD to the domestic economy. The number of international tourists is expected to exceed two billion by 2030, and the growth of tourism GDP over the next 10 years is expected to be twice as high as the average global economic growth, said Minister of Culture, Sports, Tourism and Youth Ch.Nomin.

She addressed the opening of the “Tourism Week-2025” event organized by the Tourism Professional Association to present the current achievements and future plans of the sector. She continued, “Ecotourism is expected to reach 945 billion USD by 2034, growing at 14 percent annually. Adventure tourism is expected to reach 1.7 trillion USD by 2032, growing at 10 percent annually. Healthy lifestyle tourism is expected to exceed 1 trillion USD by 2024, growing at 13 percent annually.”

Moreover, the minister underlined, “47 percent of our tourists come for ecotourism and adventure tourism, which are growing rapidly in line with global trends. That is why we need to see this as an opportunity to keep pace with the global market. We also need to embrace the trend of solo travel, with searches growing by 36 percent in a year, artificial intelligence increasingly penetrating all stages of travel, and personalized offers, chatbots, and virtual assistants gaining momentum.”

Last year, the sector generated revenue of 1.6 billion USD as a result of the implementation of comprehensive measures to promote Mongolia internationally, such as Welcome to Mongolia and Go Mongolia. This is an increase of 183 percent, or 2.8 times, compared to 2022.

In the context of increasing air transport routes and tourist transportation capacity, the government has intensified the work of concluding new air transport agreements with highly efficient market countries and issuing flight permits. By 2024, it has become possible to operate direct flights to 155 destinations, doubling the number of destinations by 2024, and for the first time in history, it has achieved the success of transporting more than two million passengers by air. The US company United Airlines has also decided to operate flights to Mongolia from May.

By 2030, Mongolia aims to receive two million tourists and double the 2,000 USD spent by one tourist in Mongolia to 4,000 USD. “This will allow the tourism sector to reach eight billion USD in revenue by 2030, accounting for 10 percent of GDP. To achieve this goal, it is necessary to show annual growth of more than 15 percent. This is not an impossible number. Only a unified and rational strategic plan, close cooperation, and sustainable investment are most important,” Minister Ch.Nomin said.

At the Tourism Week-2025 event, more than 600 representatives from about 400 enterprises in the sector are participating under the theme “Regional Development and Tourism”.

47% of tourists visit for eco and adventure tourism

To promote tourism, the “Years to Visit Mongolia” initiative is now in its second year, with the “Tourism Week” event officially launched. Over 600 participants from more than 400 enterprises attended the event focusing on regional development and tourism.

Global projections indicate that by 2030, international tourist numbers will surpass two billion, with tourism growth expected to outpace the global economic average by twice as much over the following decade. Eco-tourism revenue is projected to reach 945 billion USD by 2034 with a 14 percent growth, while adventure tourism is expected to generate 1.7 trillion USD by 2032, growing at 10 percent. Health and wellness tourism also crossed the 1 trillion USD revenue mark for the first time last year and is forecasted to grow at an annual rate of 13 percent.

Following these global trends, 47 percent of tourists visiting Mongolia now seek eco and adventure travel experiences, as highlighted during the conference Experts emphasized the urgent need to align Mongolia’s tourism offerings with international market demands by enhancing services, developing innovative products, and improving infrastructure.