The gaping policy deficiencies of domestic tourism

Iwent to Khar Zurkhnii Khukh Lake during the Naadam holidays. Khar Zurkhnii Khukh Nuur, or the Blue Lake of Black Heart, is situated amid the peaks of high mountains in Khentii Province. This lake is a very important place in Mongolian history, especially due to its links to Chinggis Khaan’s life, and is designated as a strictly protected area. Here Temuujin (Chinggis Khaan’s childhood name) was given the title “Chinggis Khaan” in 1189. Situated in Tsenkhermandal soum of Khentii Province, this historical and beautiful place is crowded with tourists every summer, with unusually high number of domestic visitors this year.

Each car pays a fee of 5,000 MNT to enter the area because this lake is a protected area. Rangers ask if you want to pitch a tent or stay in a tourist camp, then point to the appropriate road. On the east side of the lake, there are resorts and tourist camps, and on the opposite side, tents can be pitched. It looked like an organized area, but there were a number of major issues.

Sanitation becomes the biggest problem when large numbers of people camp out in the area, with tents pitched back to back. The area becomes heavily littered, with pieces of toilet paper and other nasty trash littering the area. Everyone has a responsibility to be careful and cautious out in nature. There is a public toilet at the intersection of the tourist camp and the tent. But sometimes it doesn't work. One woman who had been waiting for more than two hours to go to the toilet in the morning said, “Waiting for the toilet is useless. Think of another way.”

Tourist camps have toilets, but they are often locked and have a strict rule that only their staff can use them, so tourists have to wait for public toilets to open. After a long wait, the toilet was opened at 10:00 a.m. By then a long queue had formed. When asked why the toilets were opened so late, the staff said, “We have been doing other work. We cleaned up the garbage of travelers.”

Due to the COVID19 pandemic, Mongolians have mostly celebrated the National Naadam Festival in the countryside this year, despite the government’s effort to restrict movement and crowding. People went to the rural areas, instead of watching the main Naadam event in Ulaanbaatar. Because of this, many people who went to the countryside began to express their views on environmental pollution and waste management. Many people underlined the need to educate travelers and hold accountability for violations. Many suggested that infrastructure should not be built in order to preserve the natural beauty of rural areas. Many of them were warning the Ministry of Environment and Tourism to do its job.

"Let's tighten the law," some said, with regard to littering and pollution. Citizens reminded that there is a necessity to find solutions and develop tourism properly. Now is the time for organizations that are committed to the sector's policies and the implementation of laws, regulations and standards to take action. In doing so, it is necessary not only to approve new standards and regulations, or to give tasks and directions to lower level organizations and officials, but also to work closely with local units, rangers and state environmental inspectors.

Most of the historical monuments, sites and places visited by tourists are under state or local protection. That's why every protected area has a protected area administration. This means that it is the responsibility of these administrative specialists and rangers to look after and protect the environment in the area. However, the lack of qualified staff for such important jobs makes it difficult for them to effectively perform their duties. Of course, it is not easy for one or two rangers to take care of hundreds and thousands kilometers of land and crowded tourists. As a result, their main function of protecting nature becomes jeopardized, leading to increased environmental degradation and pollution.

A ranger of Gorkhi and Terelj National Park S.Baasankhorloo said, “Our work is not limited to cleaning up the environment. We take care of mountains, water, plants and animals, and always perform patrols. Part of our job is also to look after travelers. But right now, we can't afford to clean up the garbage on weekends. There is a real shortage of staff.”

Ranger of Khar Zurkhnii Khukh Nuur said that every year, peak load occurs during Naadam.

“According to a study, about 3,000 cars arrived as of July 12, 4:00 p.m. This means that an average of 6,000 to 8,000 tourists came. In addition to tents and tourist camps, we are busy monitoring the shores of the lake, warning people about the dangers of fire and water,” he added.

Every time state protected areas are expanded, the public rejoices. Today, however, Khuvsgul Lake, Uvs Lake, Altai Tavan Bogd, Khar Zurkhnii Khukh Lake, Gorkhi and Terelj National Park, and Ugii Lake have been affected by ecological degradation, and most of the areas are in danger of desertification. All this reminds us that the time has come to expand effective protection and to replenish and strengthen organizations that protect them.

However, government agencies such as the Ministry of Environment and Tourism says, “We will improve the ecological education of citizens, develop tourism regionally, based on local specifics. We will receive 1 million tourists a year.”

Instead of pursuing big numbers and talking about bigger policies, it is important to create permanent, highquality sanitation facilities in tourism hotspots. No matter how nice and ecofriendly the toilets are, it will not help to change the bad habits of tourists when it is not accessible. In this case, blaming tourists is onesided. Furthermore, it is necessary to regulate the activities of tourist camps and resorts, which set high prices for their products and services. Price flexibility in products and services is paramount for increasing the efficiency of domestic tourism, which aims to support the local economy and people's livelihoods.

When asked what the Tourism Policy and Coordination Department of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism plans to do in the near future, they responded, “Otgontenger, Ulaagchnii Khar Lake, Khuvsgul Lake, Uvs Lake and Khyargas Lake are planned to feature 20 protected areas, and 34 service points are planned to be established along the road this year.”

Experts believe that the full implementation of the project will solve the problem of access to sanitation facilities and waste management.

Industry experts say, “This work is too slow. Only three have been commissioned in half a year. It may collapse like most other projects.”

The World Tourism Organization recommends that countries develop policies that limit or regionalize tourism. In the coming years, domestic tourists will be the main business of players in the tourism industry in Mongolia. In other words, COVID19 has created a favorable opportunity for domestic tourism to flourish. The time has come for public and private organizations to work hard to meet the basic requirements and comforts of tourists.

Instead of pursuing big numbers and talking about bigger

policies, it is important to create permanent, high-quality sanitation facilities in tourism

hotspots. No matter how nice and eco-friendly the toilets are,

it will not help to change the bad habits of tourists when it is

not accessible...