LOCAL CITIZEN’S OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP “SAND TOURISM” IN ELSEN TASARKHAI AREA OF MONGOLIA
Munkhnasan Sarantuya1, Tugjjav Oyunchimeg2*
1Assistant Professor, School of Tourism and Land Management, Mongolian National University, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
2Professor, Department of Ecology, Mongolian University of Life Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Digital Object Identifier:
https://doi.org/10.53468/mifyr.2021.01.01.52
Abstract – At a time when Mongolia is heavily affected by desertification and is the focus of global attention, the use of sand, especially manganese sand, for tourism may be the most effective way to combat desertification. Environmental protection is one of the most pressing issues in the “Elsen tasarkhai” region, and tourism (especially creative tourism) is seen as a source of revenue to mitigate this. Local people support tourism development, but lack of experience and organization is a disadvantage. The residents of “Elsen Tasarkhai” need professional training, counseling, and cooperation with the community and the protection administration to conduct tourism activities. The survey was conducted in June, July and August 2020 using a questionnaire with 17 questions covering 24 households in the Elsen Tasarkhai area. According to a survey of local households, it is important to support the use of sand for tourism, create local brand souvenirs, establish herder communities and start working in 2022. In order to develop community-based tourism in the vicinity of “Elsen Tasarkhai”, it is necessary to develop “Sand sports, arts and culture tourism” regionally based on regional specifics.