How Tourism Helps Native Group in Mongolia

A Bond Rooted in Custom and Imaginative and prescient

Meet Mr. Dalaikhan, a Kazakh herder and eagle hunter from Altai Soum in Bayan-Ulgii province, positioned within the western a part of Mongolia. For over a decade, Dalaikhan has warmly welcomed vacationers to expertise the normal artwork of Kazakh eagle falconry, a cultural follow that was practically misplaced 20 years in the past. Due to the revival of the Golden Eagle Competition, this custom is now thriving as soon as once more.

Dalaikhan is a father of 5 and a grandfather of 9, and his efforts have been pivotal in making the Golden Eagle Competition a cornerstone of the area’s tourism. The pageant, which began as a grassroots initiative, showcases the abilities of native eagle hunters in an genuine, community-driven occasion.

Mr. Badral Yondon, president of Mongolia Quest, a journey firm, has recognized Dalaikhan for practically three many years and labored alongside him on making the pageant come to life. He displays on their long-standing relationship:

“That is Dalaikhan. A Kazakh herder, proprietor of quick horses, eagle hunter, founding father of Altai Eagle Competition. A proud father of 5 children and 9 grandchildren. Anybody who organized journeys in Bayan Olgii within the 90s or was concerned with group of the Golden Eagle Competition is aware of him. I heard of him as a superb horse information whereas I interned with the nationwide tourism group in 1992. However met personally solely in 1998. It has been virtually 3 many years since then, but he stays the exact same particular person: dependable, exhausting working and humorous – with very same smile revealing his “signature tooth”.

Since 2017, Dalaikhan has organized the native eagle pageant in Altai Soum, bringing collectively native eagle hunters to showcase their expertise and keenness. In contrast to the official Golden Eagle Competition in Ulgii, this pageant is completely run by the eagle hunters themselves, with out the involvement of exterior companies or NGOs searching for revenue. This grassroots method ensures the occasion stays targeted on cultural preservation quite than commercialization.

Along with selling the Kazakh group, Dalaikhan has expanded the pageant to incorporate the Uriankhai group, certainly one of Mongolia’s smallest however most culturally wealthy ethnic teams. The Uriankhai, recognized for his or her extraordinary archery expertise and epic poetry, now have the chance to showcase their traditions, creating mutual advantages for each communities.

Revered in his group and the tourism trade, he all the time encourage together with his heat, experience, and keenness for preserving cultural traditions.

Supporting the Underrepresented Uriankhai Group

The Uriankhai are a minority ethnic group in Mongolia, making up just one% of the inhabitants. Regardless of their small numbers, their wealthy traditions, together with heroic poetry (notably The Reward of the Altai) and noteworthy archery, have performed a big function in Mongolia’s heritage. Nevertheless, like many smaller cultures, the Uriankhai face challenges in preserving their language and traditions, particularly with the rising dominance of the Khalkha language and fashionable influences.

We, at Mongolia Quest, are dedicated to supporting the Uriankhai group by incorporating their tales, poetry, songs, and archery into our excursions. This method not solely provides vacationers an genuine cultural expertise but in addition creates truthful alternatives for native employment. By collaborating with the Uriankhai, we assist be sure that their traditions are handed right down to future generations, permitting guests to attach with this extraordinary tradition whereas supporting its preservation.

Conservation and Group Engagement at The Flaming Cliffs aka Bayanzag

One of the iconic vacationer locations in Mongolia, the Flaming Cliffs, Bayanzag in Mongolia, in Umnugobi Province, is a big paleontological website. Our President, Badral Yondon, and CEO, Gereltuv Dashdoorov, have been instrumental in creating a administration plan for the Flaming Cliffs Improvement Heart. This plan consists of the creation of walkways for guests and the institution of a Customer Heart to protect this distinctive website whereas benefiting the local people.

The Flaming Cliffs Customer Heart is a non-profit initiative funded by tourism charges, with the earnings instantly supporting group growth efforts. It’s the first of its sort in Mongolia and demonstrates how tourism income can be utilized to protect pure heritage whereas fostering financial progress.

By way of a partnership with the Worldwide Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the local people operates the Bayanzag (Flaming Cliffs) Native Nationwide Park’s Environmental and Vacationer Data Heart. Entrance charges, generated by practically 34,000 guests this 12 months, assist fund operational bills and assist group tasks. This method empowers the local people, creates jobs, and ensures the long-term sustainability of the location.

The Customer Heart offers invaluable info to guests concerning the area’s distinctive wildlife, flora, historical past, and paleontological discoveries. It additionally provides a documentary about Roy Chapman Andrews’ Central Asia Expedition within the Twenties, which provides historic depth to the expertise.

Moreover, the group has applied strict laws to forestall unlawful excavations and car injury, considerably lowering environmental hurt and making certain the safety of this pure treasure.

Selling Sustainable Tourism by way of Ulaanbaatar Tourism Affiliation

Based by Mongolia Quest, the Ulaanbaatar Tourism Affiliation (UBTA) NGO is dedicated to fostering sustainable tourism practices in Mongolia. By empowering native communities on preserving cultural and pure heritage,whereas advocating for eco-tourism, UBTA goals to make sure that tourism serves as a catalyst for each conservation efforts and financial growth. Key initiatives embrace:

• Eco-tourism coaching applications;
• The event of complete tourism grasp plans;
• Cultural heritage administration methods;
• Area people empowerment and capability constructing actions;
• and the set up of enhanced signage and trails constructing in protected areas.

These efforts goal to place Mongolia as a front-runner in international sustainable and culturally enriched tourism.

One in all UBTA’s standout tasks is the annual Ulaanbaatar Journey Expo, organized in collaboration with the Ulaanbaatar Metropolis Tourism Division. This flagship occasion gathers home and worldwide stakeholders, together with representatives from all 21 provincial Setting and Tourism Departments. The expo serves as a platform for exchanging finest practices, selling eco-friendly journey, and showcasing journey companies from native and worldwide organizations—finally strengthening Mongolia’s tourism trade.

Analysis and Coverage Improvement for Sustainable Tourism

UBTA additionally conducts intensive analysis to deal with tourism-related challenges and information coverage growth. Their research on home tourism flows, waste administration in Bayan-Ölgii, and CO2 emissions in protected areas replicate their dedication to balancing tourism growth with environmental duty. Through the use of data-driven insights, UBTA advocates for insurance policies that profit each native communities and the surroundings.

Wanting Forward: Continued Help for Native Communities

Native communities are very important to the nation’s framework, as they possess invaluable data and function stewards of cultural heritage. This heritage provides important alternatives for financial progress by way of tourism, and we’re devoted to supporting these communities on this endeavor. Moreover, many native residents volunteer as rangers, serving to to guard our expansive landscapes.

Whereas we’re a enterprise group, we acknowledge the significance of social duty. As a part of Mongolia Quest’s legacy, we goal to cut back the nation’s reliance on mining and agriculture by diversifying its economic system. We’re dedicated to serving to native communities entry different financial assets and inspiring their energetic participation in preserving cultural and pure heritage. We persistently assist initiatives like this and are devoted to searching for out and increasing new partnerships.