Can stunning landscapes and adventures tempt Western tourists to visit Mongolia?

印刷用画面を開く

Posted

Category: Business

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. steppe / stɛp / (n.) – a large, flat area of land with grass but few trees
    Example:

    The tourists traveled across the steppes, where they saw herds of wild horses running freely.


  2. nomadic / noʊˈmæd ɪk / (adj.) – describing something, such as a person or a lifestyle, that involves moving from place to place instead of staying in one place
    Example:

    Nomadic people travel with their animals and live in different places throughout the year.


  3. halt / hɔlt / (n.) – a stop or pause in movement or activity
    Example:

    The soccer game was brought to a halt because of heavy rain and lightning.


  4. clientele / ˌklaɪ ənˈtɛl / (n.) – the group of people who regularly use the services of a particular business or professional
    Example:

    The restaurant’s loyal clientele always returns for its famous pasta dishes.


  5. untapped / ʌnˈtæpt / (adj.) – describing something, such as a valuable resource, that is not yet used or explored
    Example:

    There is a lot of untapped potential in the team that could be developed with proper training.


Article

Read the text below.

Trekking through this breathtaking scenery on horseback—this is the experience of Mongolia that the country thinks will tempt Western tourists to pay it a visit.


One of the people hoping to show them what’s on offer is tour guide Egjimaa Battsooj. She and her assistant are sorting out saddles and riding gear for a small group of European clients who will travel on horseback across northern Mongolia. They come to see wildlife, steppes, and traditional nomadic lifestyle.


Battsooj and her team have taken on two or three customized tours every month since 2023, half the orders they received before the virus brought tourism to a halt.


Battsooj has noticed a rise in Koreans making the trip to her country, but she wants to attract a wider clientele. “I understand it’s closer and it’s easier to have any exposure, but still we need different branches in different sectors, not only just one,” she says.


“And also there’s almost zero support from the Ministry of Tourism in Mongolia. I don’t really remember getting any help or the support from the Mongolian government during the pandemic.”


Now Mongolia has launched a “Welcome to MonGOlia” campaign to win people back. The government has added flights and streamlined the visa process, offering visa-free visits to many countries.


At least 437,000 foreign tourists visited in the first seven months of this year, up 25% over the same period last year, including increasing numbers from Europe, the U.S., and Japan.


Mongolia’s government aims for 1 million visitors per year. It would be a huge boost for the tourism industry. Those who work in the industry understand the challenges they face. And there is hope that a few improvements could tempt lots more people to visit.


“I want the number of tourists to increase. We need to improve the comfort of the incoming tourists. Although there are many problems, the tourism sector is improving and getting better and better,” says Ganbayar, who has been a driver for a tour agency for more than ten years.


With its vast number of attractions, Mongolia hopes to unlock the untapped potential of its tourism sector.


This article was provided by The Associated Press.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • Egjimaa Battsooj has noticed a rise in Korean visitors, but she wants to attract a wider clientele. Why is it important for a country to attract tourists from different regions? What do you think might be the disadvantages of relying on tourists from just one country? Discuss.
  • How valuable do you think the tourism sector is? In your opinion, does your country have strong tourism? Why do you say so? What are the strengths of your country when it comes to tourism? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • Tourists come to see Mongolia’s wildlife, steppes, and traditional nomadic lifestyle. What do you think draws tourists to visit a country? How do you feel when you experience different cultures or see natural landscapes while traveling? Discuss.
  • Ganbayar said that for the number of tourists to increase, they need to improve the comfort of the incoming tourists. Why do you think improving comfort is essential for increasing the number of tourists? What comforts do you consider most important when you are traveling? Discuss.