Mongolia's foreign tourist arrivals up nearly 18 pct in first 8 months

ULAN BATOR, Sept. 8 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia welcomed 705,098 foreign tourists in the first eight months of 2026, an increase of 17.9 percent from the same period a year earlier, the country's ministry of culture, sports, tourism and youth said Tuesday.

According to the ministry, Russia, China, South Korea, Japan and Kazakhstan were the top source markets for inbound tourists during the period.

The Mongolian government views tourism as a key sector for diversifying the country's economy, which has traditionally relied heavily on mining exports.

However, Mongolia's tourism industry has long faced seasonal challenges due to its harsh continental climate, characterized by long, severe winters and relatively short summers.

To address these challenges, the government has been promoting the development of year-round tourism. As part of this effort, it has extended the "Years to Visit Mongolia" campaign through 2028, aiming to attract at least one million foreign visitors annually.

The Asian country received a total of 846,103 foreign tourists in 2025, representing a 5 percent increase from the previous year.