By Lee Seok-ho

Seoul, June 17 (World Korean News)= The Ministry of Environment and Tourism of Mongolia and the Monglian Korean Association have decided to work together to revitalize the Mongolian tourism industry.

On June 13, the Mongolian Korean Association sent a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Ministry of Environment and Tourism in Ulaanbaatar, saying, "We signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Ministry of Natural Environment and Tourism."

The Mongolian government aims to attract 2 million tourists in 2030, 4 million in 2040, and 6 million in 2050. As of 2019, about 570,000 foreigners visited Mongolia, with 29% from China, 24% from Russia, and 17% from Korea.

The Mongolian government is developing related services with the aim of increasing the number of Koreans visiting Mongolia to 1.5 million over the next three years. The business agreement between the Ministry of Environment and Tourism of Mongolia and the Korean Association of Mongolia also includes △ development of new tourism products for Korean tourists △ education of tour guides.

The signing ceremony of the memorandum of understanding was attended by B. Bat-Erdene, Minister of Environment and Tourism of Mongolia, D. Gantumur, chairman of the Mongolian Tourism Association, and Park Ho-seon, President of the Mongolian Korean Association. The signatures were made by Chairman D. Gantumur and Chairman Park Sun-ho.

Prior to the signing of the MOU, Minister B. Bat-Erdene and President Park Sun-ho set up a separate meeting to discuss ways to revitalize the Mongolian tourism industry. Park asked for more regular flights between Korea and Mongolia. B. Minister Bat-Erdene said he would develop a camp program involving Korean teenagers so that youth exchanges can be further activated.

** (This translation was sponsored by Dokko Youngsik, the president of the Midwest Korean American Association.)

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