[Updates by TPO Members]​

Overview

Mongolia’s tourism market is growing strongly in 2026. 

Both inbound tourism (foreign visitors coming to Mongolia) and outbound tourism (Mongolians traveling abroad) are increasing, though inbound growth is faster.

One key driver behind this growth is the expansion of flight routes connecting Mongolia with China, South Korea, and Southeast Asia, which has made travel easier in both directions.

Inbound Tourism: Record Growth

• As of July 1, 2026, Mongolia welcomed 475,974 foreign visitors, according to the National Statistics Office of Mongolia. This is 25.7% higher than the same period last year, and 92.4% higher than the same period in 2023, the strongest growth in the past four years.

• This shows that Mongolia’s tourism industry has moved beyond recovery and is now on a stable, long-term growth path.

Summer Season Boost

• Visitor numbers rose further with the start of the summer travel season and the Naadam Festival, Mongolia’s largest cultural event.

• Visitors from Europe, South Korea, and Japan are increasingly drawn to Mongolia’s natural landscapes, including its grasslands, the Gobi Desert, and Lake Khuvsgul, as well as its nomadic culture. The Mongolian government continues to support this growth through international promotion and improvements to tourism infrastructure.

Outbound Tourism: Steady Growth

• Mongolians are also traveling abroad more often, supported by economic recovery and expanded international flight options. Popular destinations include China, Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, and Japan. More Mongolians are choosing Free independent travel (FIT) rather than group tours, with growing interest in shopping, medical tourism, family trips, and wellness travel.

• In the first half of 2026, outbound travel from Mongolia rose about 10.6% compared to the same period last year, with China as the fastest-growing destination.

Better Flight Access Supports Growth

• The expansion of international flight routes, especially to Korea, China, Japan, and Southeast Asia, along with growth in low-cost carrier (LCC) service, has made overseas travel easier for Mongolians.

• Flights to Korea, in particular, continue to support demand for medical tourism and independent travel, helped by more flight options and travel promotions.

Member City Updates

Umnugovi Province: First Direct Flight from Japan

A Hunnu Air plane touched down from Matsumoto City, Japan on July 18, 2026, landing over 80 passengers at Gurvansaikhan Airport in Dalanzadgad, Umnugovi’s very first international air link to Japan. Travelers heading to the Gobi can now skip the usual stopover in Ulaanbaatar entirely, shortening the trip and channeling more visitor spending straight into the local economy. 

Hunnu Air took a similar step in 2025, opening a route between Jeonju, Korea, and Murun Airport in Khuvsgul Province.

Ulaanbaatar: Preparations Underway for UNCCD COP17

Mongolia is getting ready to host the 17th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP17), the country’s first time hosting this UN conference. 

Delegations from upwards of 190 countries and international organizations are expected to attend. On July 17, 2026, the Minister of Culture, Sports, Tourism and Youth toured the host venue with ministry staff to check on plans for cultural performances, staging, and the event program. 

________________________________________

Sources: 

1) KTO Data Lab Mongolia Tourism Trend – July, 2026

2) National Statistics Office of Mongolia; Asia News Network, July 21, 2026