Your Dream Vacation is Here
Mongolia
Created by: Gantsetseg Ulziiduuren
Tourism Report Mongolia
- Introduction
- Transportation
- Accommodations
- Food & Beverage
- Meeting and Convention
- Recreation & Entertainment
- Itinerary
- SWOT Analysis of Tourism in Your Location
Introduction Location: Mongolia
DESTINATION
Tourism is broadly organized in Mongolia and one of the fastest developing countries in the world. Mongolia located in central Asia, with 1,566,500 square kilometers, landlocked between China and Russia. Mongolia has beautiful nature and is dotted with hundreds of lakes, as well as mountains.
HISTORY
In the 13th and 14th centuries, Mongolia was the largest land empire in history. During that time, the Mongolian warrior-ruler, one of the most famous conquerors of history, unified Mongolia. In 1206, the Genghis Khan while conquering the Mongol empire, he allowed many cultures and religion. The interesting fact about Mongolian tourism western cultures entered the country, and tourism became broadly. Mongolians lived as nomadic tribes, which still practice today.
WEATHER
The climate system in Mongolia is unstable and has four seasons. During many seasons, the southern Gobi Desert temperature is higher than other locations that can reach 40 degrees. Each season has a unique environment, which makes an exciting and beautiful scene. The coldest temperature reaches minus 40 degrees, but Mongolians are very adaptable and live pleasantly in each season. The best travel time is July to September, which is summer.
TOURISM
Mongolia has a variety of sights and activities that shows the traditional culture of this country. Ethnic groups and tourism in Mongolia are known for their unique nomadic lifestyle. During the summer, many tourists come to Mongolia because of the big traditional Naadam festival. This festival is an expression of nomadic culture and an outstanding combination of sports and arts. Those are wrestling, horseracing, and archery. Naadam Festival is the most enjoyable, and many tourists come to watch it. One of the advantages is it contains the main cultural activities. Besides, there are many different festivals, such as The Golden Eagle Festival, Lunar New Year, and other festivals. Also, the top attractive places give such a great experience to visitors all over the world. Some places are the most attractive, and tourism has developed, such as The Reindeer People, Khovsgol Lake, the Knongor Sand Dunes, Yol Valley, and The Tavan Bogd Altai mountains, Terejl National Park, and Mongolian ger experience. Also, there are many attractive places organized throughout the country. Most tourist attracts places with plans for guests, and it takes different distance travel that people could experience real Mongolian culture. Mongolian tourism is increasing, and many tourist agencies operate to travel. Another great experience would be to meet with nomadic families, and they provide some activities like renting a horse, guiding excursions, providing accommodations, and traditional meals. Overall, visiting Mongolia is the best choice because it can be cheaper, depending on how you planned it.
Transportations
GROUND TRAVEL
There are several transportation methods in Mongolia, such as buses, taxis, rental cars, railway, and traditional transport modes. The Trans-Mongolian railways connect Moscow and Beijing passes through Ulaanbaatar. Transportation depends on where you are going; for example, traveling in the countryside may require traditional transport modes, which is an overnight sleeper train, ride horseback, and camel. Also, traditional modes of transportation are based on nomadic culture, adding rich history and cultural experiences that give unique experiences.
AIR TRAVEL
There are two principal ways to Mongolia by train and air. Air travel is a major part of transportation in Mongolia. The flight is run all year round and by National carrier MIAT Mongolian Airlines worldwide. The biggest airport in Mongolia is Chinggis Khaan International Airport, which takes 30-45 minutes from the city center by car. Besides, there are flights to western Mongolian provinces and only one destination to Eastern Mongolian provinces.
GETTING AROUND MONGOLIA
Mongolia is an adventurous destination, big wide land with beautiful nature. The first destination would be the capital city, which is Ulaanbaatar, with residents of 1.3 million. There are different modes of transportation, such as a rental car, taxis, public transportation. Taxis are non-official, or officials, and one of the local companies is Drive Mongolia. The public transportation is bus and trolleybus that uses card which visitors find anywhere also cheap. The taxi’s approximate cost depends on the destination, but one example is pick up or drop off from the airport one-way would-be 30$-70$, which 4-7 seats. When tourists travel to the countryside, it is different from the city because many roads could easily navigate; however, small roads are gravel and require the right tires. Another option is the railroad, and it is one of the leading local transportation. It is also cheaper and but takes a longer time than other transportation. Choose your best destination.
ACCOMMODATIONS I
The Mongolian lodging industry offers a variety of accommodations to travelers from all over the world. Many hotels provide better quality services and amenities that give memorable experiences to a guest. The Shangri-La, Blue Sky, and Tuushin hotels are the top ten Mongolia hotels and located in the city center.
HOTELS / RESORTS
| Name | Category | Cost | Amenities | Audience | Stars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Accommodation name | Resort/mid range/
economy/
etc. | Cost per night | What kinds of services would attract guests? | Who does this
accommodation
appeal to? | Usually reported as 1–4 |
Shangri-La Hotel, Ulaanbaatar | Resort
hotel
(luxury) | $196
includes taxes
and fees | Swimming pool Fitness
Spa Meetings and
conferences
Wedding
Childcare | Business and leisure travelers | 4 |
Blue Sky Hotel and Tower | Mid-level | $89
includes taxes
and fees | Swimming Pool Spa
Gym | Business and leisure travelers | 4 |
Best Western
Premier Tuushin Hotel | Mid-level | $130
includes taxes
and fees | Spa
Fitness center | Business and leisure travelers | 4 |
ACCOMMODATIONS II
There are various types of accommodations where travelers can stay. The accommodations are different because of the location and beautiful terrain. For example, Three Camel Lodge is a tented camp; when tourists go to the Gobi Desert, they could stay in the ger(yurt), a truly authentic Mongolian experience. Besides, these places provide some amenities, which are hiking, horseback riding, and camel trekking. All resorts are located at a distance from Ulaanbaatar city and offer a great experience to the guests.
HOTELS / RESORTS
| Name | Category | Cost | Amenities | Audience | Stars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Accommodation name | Resort/mid range/
economy/
etc. | Cost per night | What kinds of services would attract guests? | Who does this
accommodation
appeal to? | Usually reported as 1–4 |
Three Camel lodge (south Gobi)
Location type
remote | Resort
tented
camp | $90
includes taxes
and fees | Hiking
Horseback riding Excavating
dinosaur fossils Camel trekking | leisure travelers | |
Gorkhi Eco family resort | resort | $60 includes taxes
and fees | Horseback riding Children’s
Playground
hiking | leisure travelers | |
Terelj resort hotel | luxury | $270
includes taxes
and fees | Fitness
Spa
Childcare
Swimming pool Tennis court | Business and leisure travelers | 4 |
Food & Beverage / Restaurants
Tourists can taste various kinds of cuisines in the destination, including Mongolian traditional food and beverages. Many tourists are often interested in experiencing” Airag,” a traditional national beverage that plays crucial roles in rituals and homelife. Besides, one of the popular foods called “khorkhog” traditional Mongolian barbeque made with bone-in cut s of mutton, lamb, or goat, and vegetables such as onions, potatoes, cabbages, and carrots. Another cuisine is a dumpling, one of the main foods people make, especially during the events they often cook. Moreover, tourists can find many different foreign cuisines in the capital city; however, the countryside often has traditional foods.
There are lots of fast food places in Mongolia. The most recognizable American and Asian fast-food restaurants. Also, the prices at the Mongolian restaurant are not too high, and it is affordable. The casual and fine dining restaurants offer many kinds of cuisine for travelers from all over the world. There will be plenty of choices to eat other kinds of foods and to explore new things.
Quick Service Restaurants
| Name | Cuisine | Meals | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Restaurant
name | Type of food | What meals do they serve? | Do they offer any
special services for customers? | Average
price, often reported as a number of
$ to describe costs ($=low cost;
$$=mid
range) |
Pizza Hut | American, fast
food | dinner | Takeout, seating | $10-15 |
KFC | American, fast
food | Takeout, seating | dinner | $10-15 |
Mandu | Asian, fast food, diner, Mongolian | Lunch, dinner,
breakfast | Takeout, seating,
traditional Asian
dishes | $10-15 |
CASUAL RESTAURANTS
| Name | Cuisine | Meals | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Restaurant
name | Type of food | What meals do they serve? | Do they offer any
special services for customers? | Average
price, often reported as a number of
$ to describe costs ($=low cost;
$$=mid
range) |
Modern
Nomads | Asian, Mongolian | Lunch, dinner,
brunch,
vegetarian
friendly | Delivery, takeout, reservations, seating, serves, alcohol, full bar, table service | $10-25 |
Cubes casual dining
restaurant | Italian, European | Lunch, Dinner, brunch, drinks, late night | Delivery, takeout, seating | $10-25 |
Hazara | Indian, Asian,
vegetarian
friendly | Lunch, dinner,
late night | Delivery, takeout, reservations, seating, parking, highchairs available, serves,
alcohol, full bar, table service | $10-25 |
FINE DINING RESTAURANTS
| Name | Cuisine | Meals | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Restaurant
name | Type of food | What meals do they serve? | Do they offer any
special services for customers? | Average
price, often reported as a number of
$ to describe costs ($=low cost;
$$=mid
range) |
The Bull Hot restaurant | Asian, Mongolian | Dinner, lunch,
brunch, late night | takeout, reservations, seating, parking,
highchairs available, serves, alcohol, full bar, table service,
accept credit card | $15-100 |
Monet
restaurant | European,
Contemporary | Dinner, lunch,
brunch, late night | Delivery, takeout, reservations, seating, parking, highchairs available, serves,
alcohol, full bar, table service, wheelchair accessible, accepts American express | $15-100 |
Hutong
restaurant | Chinese, Asian, vegetarian
friendly | Lunch, dinner,
drinks | takeout, reservations, seating, parking,
highchairs available, serves, alcohol, full bar, table service,
private dining, accept credit card | $15-100 |
MEETING AND CONVENTIONS
Most venues and convention centers are related to hotel sectors and provide various ways to operate special events for travelers’ business and leisure needs. Many venues in Mongolia offers many services.
- One of Mongolia’s biggest convention centers is Shangri-La hotel, with versatile event spaces and facilities, including a 1300 sqm ballroom. The ballroom can affordable for 150 guests seated and 300 guests standing. It also, depending on the event space, can accommodate your business and leisure needs. Besides, it is wheelchair accessible, which is comfortable for disabled people. (www.shangri-la.com)
- Novotel hotel has two fully equipped conference rooms, and it is suitable for any activity. It is also suitable to organize some events such as a wedding, family reunion, and meetings. (www.novotel-ulaanbaatar.com)
- The Kempinski hotel is one of the western hotels in Mongolia, and there are many different venues ideal for kinds of events, conferences, meetings, reception wedding, or party. (www.kempinski.com)
- The elegant Terelj ballroom enables you to experience special events, and two complimentary meeting rooms can accommodate up to 150 people. (www.tereljhotel.com)
- This hotel is one of the oldest hotels in Mongolia, operating since 1961 and its luxury. The meeting and conference facilities are fully fitted with 20-100 people. The larger facilities are named after the ancient to recent capital cities of Mongolia. (www.ubhotel.mn)
- There are fully equipped conference rooms that accommodate both leisure and business needs. The Ramada hotel’s meeting rooms can arrange differently and up to 80 guests. (www.ramadaub.mn)
- Bayangol Hotel conference room has a capacity of 40-50 people and the cost per hour 70,000MNT. Also, the rooms can arrange differently according to the needs of the event purpose. (www.bayangolhotel.mn)
- Holiday Inn Hotel has two main meeting rooms and larger and smaller. The larger main venue is often used for social events, business meetings, and weddings. Meeting and venues can be organized differently and accommodate 30 to 300 people. (www.ihg.com)
- Best Western Premier Thuushion hotel’s meeting room is for a business meeting, celebrations, weddings, conferences, seminars, and incentives. These venues are suitable for different activities with advanced technology 30-450 guests. (www.bestwesternmongolia.mn)
- There is a multipurpose event hall covering 100-150 people. Each meeting rooms have a different purpose and suitable for conference, reception, seminars, and meetings. (www.hotelbluesky.mn)
RECREATION AND ENTERTAIMENT
There are many attractions and entertainment in Mongolia. The capital city has more entertainment than regional areas because the countryside area has many natural wonders and traditional nomadic life experiences. Terelj National Park and Orkhon Walley recognized as UNESCO world heritage since 2014. Besides, traditional cultural festivals are unique, and it includes traditional activities so that travelers can enjoy. During the Naadam festival, tourists can see the main traditional sports such as horse racing, wrestling, and archery. Moreover, the capital city has museums and sports activities as well. Lastly, the guest can visit the dinosaur country, which is the Mongolian Gobi. It is a great destination that gives great memory and recreation.
Water Activities:
- Fishing
- Ice festival-Khuvsgul Lake
Natural Wonders:
- Terelj National Park
- Orkhon Valley-Orkhon waterfall
Sports & Recreation Spas:
- Skiing-Sky Resort
- Horseback ride
- Naadam festival
Arts, Culture, Entertainment:
- Museums- Mongolian national museums
- Shopping
- Visit dinosaur country- Mongolian Gobi
5 DAYS OF NAADAM FESTIVAL TOUR ITINERARY
The festival will be held on 11-15 July at the central stadium and Khui Doloon Khudag in Ulaanbaatar.
Day 1 :
Morning
The opening ceremony of the Naadam festival starts at 11 am, and there will be Nine White banners are carried by honored guards from the government palace to the central stadium.
Afternoon
To watch the Deeltei Mongolia festival, a traditional costume festival, starts around 2:30 pm. Overnight will stay in the hotel.
Day 2 :
All-day:
The Naadam festival has three main sport games, and there will be wrestlers at the central stadium and enjoy festival tradition and color. Meantime, horse racers and archery athletes compete for best titles. Also, there will be an enjoyable time to experience Mongolian cultural experiences.
Day 3 :
Afternoon:
The travelers drive to Terelj national park to experience a ride on horseback and experience Mongolia’s nomad countryside. Stay overnight at Mongolian ger, which is a traditional house for nomadic people.
DAY 4:
The next day we will drive to Chinggis Khaan Statue, which is on the way to Ulaanbaatar city. The area of the big statue wide, and inside the statue museums, souvenir shopping, and restaurant. This statue is made of steel, and travelers can enjoy the time there.
DAY 5:
On the last day, we will transfer to the airport for an international flight.
SWOT ANALYSIS OF DESTINATION
STRENGTH
- Mongolia has a very good geographical position with beautiful nature and landscapes.
- Mongolia has one of the world’s famous destinations, which is the Gobi Desert has dinosaur fossils and eggs.
- Mongolian history is known well in the world, and tourism has been increasing.
- Recognized by UNESCO World Heritage as a cultural landscape in 2014
WEAKNESSES
- Lack of transportation network
- Lack of tourism marketing and promotion policy in tourism destinations in Mongolia.
- Travel services are lacking to share enough information with visitors OPPORTUNTIES
- Increase the number of tourists while improving the quality of tourism in Mongolia
- There is a high possibility to develop eco-tourism because of the large wilderness and cultural heritage
- There are lots of attractions through cultural and religious tourism
THREATS
- Environmental pollution
- Competition with other well- organized countries
- Some negative impacts due to unorganized domestic visitors
CONCLUSION
Mongolia has a rich history and culture. As one of the least populated countries globally, known as the “Land of blue sky and nomads”, its famous Gobi Desert in the southern part of Mongolia. The heritage and history are known as Chinggis Khan, who conquered the massive lands in history. There are many attractions in this destination that seek adventure and nomad life experience. Mongolia’s western attracts tourists by the unique culture and places such as the reindeer of Kazakh Eagle hunters and Taiga herding nomads. The hospitality and tourism industry have been working tirelessly to offer a memorable experience to visitors worldwide. Mongolia is a great destination to visit and provides unique cultural experiences. All sectors of the hospitality and tourism industry show great service to our guests.