This week The Times of Central Asia will be attending the CAMCA Regional Forum, which this year is being held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
The CAMCA network is a collection of professionals and policymakers dedicated to sharing ideas, knowledge and inspiration to develop the Eurasia region; its name stands for Central Asia, Mongolia, the Caucasus and Afghanistan.
Ahead of the Forum, The Times of Central Asia spoke with Mongolia’s Cultural Envoy, and the Vice Chair of the Asian Ecotourism Network, Dr. Gantumur Damba, about the country’s Kazakh nomads, and what the CAMCA program means for Mongolian culture and tourism.
TCA: Central Asia is geographically quite close to Mongolia, but Mongolia’s culture is distinct. What parts of Mongolian life do you think make journeys here unique for visitors?
GD: Indeed. While Mongolia has some cultural similarities with Central Asia due to historical links, it has developed its own distinct identity. We are a unique culture with influences from Buddhism, shamanism and animism in our pastoralist herder’s way of life.
Eastern Mongolia is rich in historical sites, including Deluun Boldog, where Genghis Khan was born, and the historical ruins of 13th and 14th-century towns.
Central Mongolia is centered on the ancient town of Kharkhorum – with UNESCO-inscribed intangible cultural events – and the beautiful Orkhon Valley.
This region is also enriched by Mongolian Buddhist traditions and architectural sites.
North Mongolia is the home of nomadic reindeer herders, who have strong shamanistic beliefs. They are one of the last groups in the world to still herd reindeer as their primary way of life.
Mongolia’s largest ethnic minority are Kazakhs, who live in the country’s western regions. What opportunities do visitors to Mongolia have to discover the Mongolian Kazakh way of life?
The Kazakhs of Mongolia have distinct cultural practices, and live mainly in western Mongolia, particularly in Bayan-Ölgii province.
While they share a common heritage with Kazakhs in Kazakhstan and other Central Asian nations, their experience in Mongolia is shaped by their minority status and the influence of Mongolian culture and Buddhism, alongside their own Turkic language and Islamic traditions.
Activities like eagle hunting demonstration events, trekking in the Altai Mountains, and exploring authentic nomadic life offer unique travel experiences.
Travelers can experience authentic nomad Kazakh culture through homestays, participating in festivals, and witnessing traditional crafts, traditional music, epic storytelling and vibrant dances like the eagle dance.
What places and activities in Mongolia do you most recommend to foreign visitors? Are you working on any new destinations?
Mongolia offers a high degree of freedom and flexibility for travelers, especially when it comes to camping and exploring the vast landscapes. There are relatively few restrictions on where you can go and camp, and you can often choose your own route and pace.
However, choosing the right travel partner is vital. I categorize our destinations according to three “Ms”. The first M stands for modified places – basically those that are spoiled. That includes Terelj, Kharkhorum and West Khuvsgul Lake, where you will find many resorts, ger (yurt) camps and scheduled mass tourism activities.
In the second category are places which require more professional land use planning. These are places like some Gobi destinations or the Altai mountains.
The third M is for the authentic, untouched Mongolia, which is what visitors want to see. We need a clear picture of what Mongolia really is, of what it has to offer, of its competitive advantages, and of the expectations of potential tourists.
Mongolia is not Bali or Brazil. Ours is a specific niche market, high-end, specialized tourism for which we need improvements down the whole value chain. Quality rather than quantity!
Tourism offers not only economic but also cultural and social opportunities. That is all about sustainable and inclusive tourism development, so this is why we need to collaborate more together with the Central Asian destinations, where we do have common issues in tourism – unique and vulnerable resources.
How do you think the CAMCA Forum will bring together businesses from all of its member regions and countries?
Tourism is a fragmented sector, necessitating It arises from the diverse range of businesses and sectors involved, each with its own specific needs and objectives.
To achieve sustainable and successful tourism development, collaboration and discussion among stakeholders is important. I strongly believe that the CAMCA Forum significantly contributes to economic, political and socio-cultural results in regional tourism development, on both a national and regional basis.
I highly appreciate the chance to be part of this CAMCA dialogue. I sincerely welcome all the participants to Mongolia.
