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Mongolia Passes Its 2025 Tourist Total With Three Months to Spare

Writer: Enkhzaya Ganbold
Enkhzaya Ganbold
24 hours ago
5 min read

Mongolia tourist arrivals in 2026 have already passed the total for the whole of 2025. The Mongolia Tourism Organization (MTO) counted 856,636 foreign visitors by 6 October 2026, against 847,170 in all of 2025, with almost three months of the year still to go. For travellers, it means a busier, better-connected Mongolia, and a stronger reason to book summer 2027 early.

Key facts

  • What: Mongolia passed its 2025 full-year tourist total on 6 October 2026

  • Arrivals in 2026: 856,636 foreign visitors, 1 January to 6 October 2026 (MTO)

  • Whole of 2025: 847,170 foreign visitors (MTO)

  • Target: 1 million tourists in 2026; 85.7% reached, 143,364 still needed (as of 6 October 2026)

  • January to September: 841,506 arrivals, up 21% year on year (MTO statistics page)

  • Top markets: Russia, China, South Korea, then Japan; the United States and Kazakhstan follow

  • Source: Mongolia Tourism Organization, 7 October 2026; Montsame, 2 October 2026

Large group of foreign tourists with horses and local horsemen on a green hillside in the Mongolian countryside
An Enza Tours group with local horsemen on the steppe. Photo: Enza Tours

What did Mongolia announce about 2026 tourist arrivals?

Mongolia passed its 2025 visitor total on 6 October 2026. In a news release published on 7 October 2026, the MTO said the country had received 856,636 tourists so far this year, which is 9,466 more than the 847,170 recorded across the whole of 2025.

The same release puts the country at 85.7% of its target of one million tourists. Reaching it would take another 143,364 arrivals before the end of the year. The MTO, a public body set up on 21 August 2023 under the revised Tourism Law, publishes these figures on its statistics page, which counts foreign nationals entering Mongolia for purposes other than study, work or residence.

How fast is tourism in Mongolia growing?

Growth is strong, but the exact percentage depends on which source you read. The MTO statistics page shows 841,506 arrivals by 30 September 2026, up 21% on the same period of last year. The state news agency Montsame reported the same 841,506 total on 2 October, with 107,233 visitors in September alone, but compared it with a lower 2025 baseline and gave a larger increase.

Earlier in the year, the news site ikon.mn reported 568,989 arrivals from January to July 2026, up 18.9% year on year, citing the Mongolian Tourism Association. July alone brought 150,257 visitors. Whatever the exact figure, every source points the same way: 2026 is Mongolia's busiest year for foreign visitors in the figures we have seen.

Where are Mongolia's visitors coming from?

Russia, China and South Korea remain Mongolia's largest markets, followed by Japan. Montsame lists the United States and Kazakhstan as the next largest groups after those four.

The MTO also published the first figures for October. In the first six days of October 2026, Mongolia welcomed 7,210 visitors from Russia, 2,768 from South Korea, 2,025 from China and 628 from Japan. Autumn is clearly no longer an empty month in Mongolia, even though July and August remain the peak.

Foreign tourists riding Bactrian camels in a line on the Gobi steppe under a blue sky with white clouds
Camel riding is one of the most-booked experiences on our Gobi tours. Photo: Enza Tours

Why are more travellers choosing Mongolia?

Easier entry is one clear factor. According to Passport Index, citing the Embassy of Mongolia in France, ordinary passport holders from 34 countries, including the United Kingdom, most of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Australia and New Zealand, can visit visa-free for up to 30 days until 1 January 2027. We explain what happens after that date in our post on Mongolia's visa-free entry and 2027 trips.

New air links help too, such as the first direct flights between Ulaanbaatar and New Delhi, which began at the end of September, and the planned expansion of Chinggis Khaan International Airport, which we covered in our airport expansion report. The industry is also promoting itself at home: Montsame reports that the International Tourism Mart 2026 will be held at the Misheel Expo Center in Ulaanbaatar from 23 to 25 October 2026, with all 21 aimags presenting their tourism products.

What this means for your trip

More visitors are good news for Mongolia, but they change how you should plan. From our side of the desk, this is what we suggest:

  • Book peak season early. July and August are the busiest months, and good ger camps and experienced driver-guides in popular areas fill first. If you want a classic route such as our Amazing Gobi Desert Tour (7 days), start planning summer 2027 this winter.

  • Consider the shoulder months. September and early October bring golden steppe, eagle festivals in the west and fewer people at the big sights. See our month-by-month guide to the best season.

  • Check your entry rules for 2027. Visa-free entry for the 34 countries is confirmed only until 1 January 2027, so check again before you buy flights for next year.

  • Allow time in Ulaanbaatar. In a busy season, a buffer night in the capital after you land at Chinggis Khaan International Airport makes the start of a countryside trip calmer.

Two riders on horses beside the white fence and gers of a tourist ger camp in the Mongolian countryside
Ger camps in popular areas fill first in July and August. Photo: Enza Tours

How Enza Tours can help

We are a locally owned Ulaanbaatar operator, so we work with the same camps, drivers and guides every season and know when they book out. Tell us your dates and interests, and we will suggest a route that avoids the crowds where possible, from small-group departures to private trips. Early enquiries for summer 2027 are welcome now.

Frequently asked questions

How many tourists visited Mongolia in 2026?

Mongolia received 856,636 foreign tourists between 1 January and 6 October 2026, according to the Mongolia Tourism Organization. That is already more than the 847,170 visitors recorded in the whole of 2025.

Will Mongolia reach one million tourists in 2026?

Mongolia's target is one million tourists in 2026, and the Mongolia Tourism Organization said on 7 October 2026 that the country had reached 85.7% of it. Another 143,364 arrivals are needed by 31 December 2026, in the quieter autumn and winter months.

Which countries send the most tourists to Mongolia?

Russia, China and South Korea send the most visitors to Mongolia, followed by Japan, according to the Mongolia Tourism Organization and Montsame. Montsame lists the United States and Kazakhstan as the next largest markets in 2026.

Is Mongolia getting too crowded to visit?

Mongolia still has huge open spaces, but in our experience its most popular sights and ger camps get busy in July and August. Booking summer trips early, or travelling in June or September, helps you avoid the busiest weeks.

Tours that fit this story

Hand-picked from our current programmes. See all of them on our Mongolia small group tours page.

Sources

About this article

Written by the Enza Tours News Desk in Ulaanbaatar and checked by our team before publishing. Every date, number and rule in this post comes from the sources listed above, which we read on 7 October 2026. Last updated: 7 October 2026.

About Enza Tours LLC. We are a Mongolian inbound tour operator, founded in 2018 by Enkhzaya (Enza), and a member of the Mongolia Tourism Organization (MTO) and the Mongolian Tourism Association (MTA). Office: Room 39, Building 33, 4th Khoroo, Baga Toiruu Street, Chingeltei District, Ulaanbaatar 15141, Mongolia. Phone +976 8911 2100 · info@mongoliantour.guide · Meet our team · Contact us

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