Pro-poor Tourism Applying Opportunities for Rural Herders of Mongolia

This paper illustrates the current state of tourism development and poverty situation in Mongolia as it investigates the options and potential implications of tourism on poverty alleviation based on the pro-poor tourism (PPT) concepts. The aim of this paper is to review the PPT related research studies, through some Asian countries’ experiences, to identify crucial issues regarding how PPT can be identified and applied, as a conceptual approach in diversifying livelihood and decreasing poverty. Reviews of the literature and some cases suggest there are various types of PPT activities that can be implied and their focuses were on poverty reduction and local development. Therefore it concluded with an analysis of the opportunities and barriers to tourism in Mongolia, taking into consideration the policy and planning as important aspects. In reality, because of insufficient policy and planning on tourism, herders can’t profitably use the concepts of tourism as tool for diversifying and increasing their livelihood. Although, this paper explores the opportunities to support rural herders improve their livelihood and reduce poverty via comparing two kinds of Asian countries’ cases. In PPT development, it is essential to learn from others’ lessons learned and achievements gained, as well as, sustain and reinforce any small achievements that have already been gained by the PPT related activities. From a poverty reduction perspective, the opportunities are becoming comparatively broadened, but when applying the PPT main principles and strategies every developing country should identify their own specific features and proper ways to meet their needs.