Mongolia’s tourism sector is aiming excessive within the upcoming 12 months, and with good motive. In November, the Lonely Planet nominated Mongolia as one of many high 10 locations to go to in 2024.
The nation’s nomadic historical past and tradition will function an necessary aspect for increasing the nation’s “third neighbor” coverage and financial targets in 2024. The present administration is increasing bilateral ties with third neighbor nations reminiscent of Vietnam, South Korea, Singapore, Turkey, and the United States to spice up tourism and make Mongolia extra accessible to world vacationers.
The “Welcome to Mongolia” marketing campaign was launched in 2023 throughout Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai’s state go to to South Korea. The tourism marketing campaign not solely highlights Mongolia’s third neighbor connections but additionally envisages alternatives for brand spanking new industrial airline routes and the streamlining of visa methods.
In the trouble to diversify Mongolia’s financial system, Ulaanbaatar’s third neighbors have made important leaps in bilateral industrial ties.
In August, Mongolia and the United States signed an Open Skies Agreement within the hopes of “facilitating greater air connectivity between the United States and Mongolia and will provide the legal framework for nonstop passenger flights.” Mongolia additionally bought its first Boeing 787 plane.
Ulaanbaatar has signed comparable agreements with nationwide airline carriers and aviation regulators in Turkey, Vietnam, and Singapore. The Mongolia-Singapore settlement is especially necessary for Mongolia to train the “fifth freedom of the air”: visitors rights for flights in the end certain for a 3rd nation. Mongolia can thus use Singapore as a transit hub to hook up with the Asia-Pacific markets, Europe, and the Americas.
Another key a part of Mongolia’s technique to spice up tourism is securing visa-free entry for overseas nationals. As of 2023, Mongolia had signed visa-free offers with 34 nations.
Mongolia can be selling Mongolian tradition overseas within the hopes of fomenting curiosity within the nation as a vacationer vacation spot. The cultural actions that occurred in Paris and London this 12 months will be seen as groundwork for attracting European tourism to Mongolia within the upcoming years.
The Ministry of Culture of Mongolia has been proactive in exhibiting the nation’s tradition to the world, even whereas aiming to recall cultural artifacts.
During the International Cultural Forum in St. Petersburg, Russia, in November, Minister of Culture Nomin Chinbat launched a name to motion, urging different nations to return Mongolian historic cultural artifacts scattered around the globe. Other nations could also be reluctant to return these things; nevertheless, the ministry goals to barter to make use of these artifacts as a part of better reveals and shows.
For instance, the British Museum at the moment shops 122 Mongolian artifacts from the Ill-Khanid dynasty. Displays of these artifacts current a possibility to spotlight Mongolia to new audiences throughout the globe and enhance the cultural visibility of Mongolian nomadic heritage.
Mongolia’s work has already led to some treasures being introduced again to the nation, together with the return of Mongolian dinosaur fossils from the United States. The French authorities has agreed to work intently with their Mongolian counterparts to fight illicit trafficking of artifacts.
Another connection between tradition and commerce is obvious in Mongolia’s artistic industries. The authorities has held talks with Hollywood executives and is providing interesting tax incentives for manufacturing corporations to movie and put money into Mongolia, whereas additionally placing the nation’s spectacular landscapes on screens the world over and hopefully driving additional curiosity and tourism to the nation.
This 12 months, Mongolia additionally held the primary Nas Summit, which linked younger Mongolians to key social media influencers and content material mills with a mixed social media following of over 400 million. The influencers from around the globe have been introduced underneath one roof in Ulaanbaatar to share concepts and focus on the newest technological tendencies. Events just like the Nas Summit increase the visibility of Mongolia’s youthful technology within the digital age.
As Mongolia strives to diversify its financial system, creativity and newer initiatives are required to bolster the nation’s tourism sector. The International Monetary Fund’s October 2023 figures projected that Mongolia’s GDP will develop by one other 4.5 p.c in 2024. Tourism is hoped to play an more and more necessary position within the financial system.
“I look forward to 2024 being another year where we see a strengthening of cultural ties between Mongolia and the rest of the world,” Nomin Chinbat, the minister of tradition, informed The Diplomat. “That is why selling Mongolia’s tradition abroad has been a key a part of my work this 12 months.
“Culture and the creative industries are not only a key part of Mongolia’s growth strategy at home but at the heart of our ‘third neighbor’ policy, which builds and strengthens friendships old and new.”
In 2024, Mongolia anticipates constructing on this success. The authorities will proceed to make use of cultural diplomacy to amplify its voice on the worldwide stage and strengthen its worldwide partnerships, whereas attracting vacationers from around the globe.
Source web site: thediplomat.com
