Tourism and Culture Take Center Stage at Executive Training Programme in Mongolia

The 19th edition of the Executive Training Programme on Tourism Policy and Strategy (Ulaanbaatar, 19-22 May), co-organized with the Ministry of Culture, Sports, Tourism and Youth of Mongolia with the sponsorship of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Korea, focused on the theme: “Tourism and Culture: Optimizing Beneficial Impacts and Building Resilience.”

As the first edition held in Mongolia, the training marked a significant milestone, offering delegates a firsthand experience of the country’s living nomadic heritage and emerging cultural tourism potential.

Bringing together 33 delegates from 21 Member States and Associate Members the Programme once again served as a unique forum for high-level knowledge exchange on contemporary policy trends and strategies. The programme included a special forum, four focused sessions, and a technical tour, facilitating a comprehensive understanding of how culture-driven tourism can support economic recovery, social cohesion, and environmental stewardship.

UN Tourism consultant and global expert on sustainable tourism, Professor Joseph M. Cheer, led the programme and guided discussions with insight drawn from global best practices, local case studies, and forward-looking policy frameworks.

The Opening Forum featured keynote presentations from Dr. Joseph Cheer; Mr. Shin Hyun Chul of Jeju Tourism Organization; and Mr. Battulga Tumurdash, President of the Mongolian Tourism Organization. The discussion explored current trends in cultural tourism and opportunities for innovation and community engagement.

Across the four thematic sessions, participants tackled key challenges and shared policy approaches on:

• Governance at the Tourism-Culture Nexus
• Community-driven Cultural Tourism
• Enterprise Development and Innovation
• Future Frontiers for Culture-based Tourism

Indonesia, Thailand, Nepal, Republic of Korea, Fiji, and Bhutan shared national strategies and local success stories, emphasizing inclusive models, stakeholder participation, and preservation of tangible and intangible cultural assets.

Mr. Harry Hwang, Director of UN Tourism’s Regional Department for Asia and the Pacific, highlighted the timeliness of this year’s theme in his opening remarks: “Culture is not just a source of identity; it is a transformative force in tourism. The stories, traditions, and creative energy embedded in our communities are essential for building more inclusive and resilient destinations.”

Launched in 2006, the UN Tourism Asia-Pacific Executive Training Programme remains a flagship initiative for capacity building in the region. As destinations navigate recovery and transformation, the insights shared in Ulaanbaatar will help shape future tourism strategies rooted in sustainability, culture, and community.