In response to growing fears amid the spread of COVID-19, Mongolia had shut down its borders. During the period, the number of passengers who entered through Mongolia’s border in the first quarter of 2020, has decreased by 53.5 percent year-on-year. In addition, a total of cross-boarding passengers dropped by 56.3 percent to 551,900 in duplicated numbers. In line with the border ban, more than 85.5 percent of passengers were Mongolian and the rest or 14.5 percent were foreign visitors. Travel suspension has been imposed from February 1, since then a total of 6,096 citizens have crossed the border, 30 percent of them have been evacuated by charter flights. Meanwhile, international travelers slipped by 58.7 percent to 184,900 compared to the same period of the previous year. According to the study conducted by the Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MNCC), 44 percent of tourist companies have reduced their workforce while 38 percent of them are highly likely to cut their jobs.

Published Date:2020-04-13