Mongolia occupies a special place in the minds of many dreamers. The vast landscapes, nomadic horseman and the evocative legends of the Mongol horde have enticed wayfarers here for the past 800 years.

Many visitors come for Naadam, the two-day summersports festival that brings Ulaanbaatar to a standstill. But the real adventure begins where the pavement ends: on Mongolias immense plains and sprawling massifs, which support millions of domesticated and wild animals. While camels cross the sun-scorched Gobi, fleet footed gazelle bound through the eastern grasslands and giant mountain sheep skip across the Khangai ridge tops.

Nomads still live in the grasslands. Packing their belongings onto camels several times a year. They go where  the grass is greenest, and stay for the long and cold winter at their winter places. Hospitality is a way of life, and a night in a nomads felt ger (yurt) is a highlight. The cultural experience is complemented through culture tourism and the adventure opportunities like biking, kayaking and mountaineering as well as world-class fishing and the granddaddy of all adventures a horse trek across spectacular alpine scenery.

Mongolia, the Land of Blue Sky, is a remarkable country of spectacular light and traditional culture. It is an invigorating and exhilarating place to visit, and remains one of the last unspoiled travel destinations in Asia.

Some figures

Area: 1,565 million square kilometers Population: 2.71 million Constitution: Parliamentary democracy since 1990. State president is elected by the people. Religions: Tibetian Buddhism (predominant), Shamanism, Islam Landscapes: Steppe, desert with sand dunes, taiga, mountains with glaciers, lakes. Average Altitude: appr. 1.500 m above sea level Economy: Services, agriculture, mining, tourism (growing demand, improving  infrastructure); export of minerals, cashmere products, textiles.

Major economic indicators, Mongolia, 2004 - 2007

Item 2004 2005 2006 2007 GDP growth 10,6 7,0 6,3 7,5 GDI/GDP                  27,0 27,0   28,0   28,0   Inflation (CPI) 10,6 5,0 5,0 5,0 Money supply (M2) growth 16,5 19,3     Fiscal balance/GDP neg. 1,2 neg. 2,5     Merchandise export growth 36,0 neg. 0,8     Merchandise import growth 22,4 2,5     Current account/GDP neg. 14,0 neg. 13,5

CPI = consumer price index
GDI = gross domestic investment
GDP = gross domestic product
Source National Statistical Office of Mongolia,
International Monetary Fund, staff estimates

Further information on www.adb.org/Mongolia/default.asp

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