Bill proposes setting up tourism professional associations

During its weekly meeting on November 16, Cabinet reviewed the draft revision of the Law on Tourism.

In connection with the declaration to make 2023 and 2024 as the “Years to Visit Mongolia” to promote the national tourism sector, Cabinet and the National Committee for Tourism Development decided to use the slogan “Welcome to Mongolia” for the activities of tourism organizations.

During the meeting, ministers were instructed to submit their proposals to the draft revision by November 21.

The draft revision of the Law on Tourism includes the following regulations:

• To introduce the concept of tourism industry and support enterprises operating in the tourism sector

• To classify tourism organizations as tour operators, travel agents and tourism service organizations, and grant licenses to conduct tour operator activities

• To attract foreign and domestic investments, diversify tourism products and services and classify tourism areas as national and local tourism in order to develop sustainable tourism in certain areas

• To clarify local participation in the tourism sector

• To carry out cross-border tourism through tour operators licensed to provide international tourism services

• In order to support hunting tourism, to create a legal environment for auctioning special permits for hunting argali, ibex and peregrine falcon based on calculations and research without damaging the herd structure

• In order to support tourism, the government will establish a tourism development fund. The fund will support the increase of air passenger transportation, reduce the seasonality in the tourism industry, develop new tourism products and services, organize activities to promote Mongolia internationally and create tourism infrastructure.

• To create a legal framework for refunding VAT charged on goods and products purchased by tourists

• To establish tourism professional associations