Улаанбаатар
Winterland Ice Festival-2024, the First Winter Tourist Event in 2024
Society
Ulaanbaatar, January 16 , 2024 /MONTSAME/. Governor’s Office of Arkhangai aimag hosted the annual “Winterland Ice Festival-2024” on January 13-14, 2024 with the support of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism and the Ministry of Culture.
The Festival
was the first winter tourist event in 2024 and various competitions, shows and
fairs, including Ice Knuckle-Bone
Shooting (Musun Shagai), the Ice Archery, the Bests in National
Deel contest, and the "Khasar of the
Steppe" a show of Mongol Bankhar Dogs, a fair of local products and art
performances took place in the first straw bale stadium constructed by
locals.
More than 30,000 people participated
in this year’s ice festival, and it is estimated that about MNT 2 billion was earned in three days,
which has a high
impact on the local economy. Furthermore, it was the first time that about 400
archers took part in the Arkhangai aimag’s brand sport Ice Knuckle-Bone Shooting, while
more than 90 archers tested their skills in “Ice Archery”.
During the
Ice Festival, a new service was introduced for tourists which was the stay in ordinary
local families at a low price. In total, more than 100 families received more
than 300 domestic and foreign tourists and increased their household income,
while more than 8,000 people stayed in hotels,
tourist and ger camps.
According to the Years to Visit
Mongolia initiated by the Government of Mongolia, the Ministry of Environment
and Tourism has developed a plan to regularize major winter and summer tourism
events and to host new interesting events
to attract foreign and domestic tourists. One of the events was “Winterland Ice
Festival-2024”.
The Ministry also stated its plans to implement
modern programs by combining traditional culture with technological solutions.
The next event to be held in Arkhangai aimag will be the "Ice Fishing
World Championship" in Ugii Lake on the 3rd of March.
Translated by Sainzaya Davaajamts
