KATHMANDU: Senior tourism officials from across the Asia-Pacific region convened in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, for the 19th edition of the Executive Training Programme on Tourism Policy and Strategy, organized by UN Tourism in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Sports, Tourism and Youth of Mongolia and sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Korea.

Held from May 19 to 22, the programme focused on the theme “Tourism and Culture: Optimizing Beneficial Impacts and Building Resilience,” highlighting the growing importance of culture-driven tourism in creating inclusive, resilient, and sustainable destinations.

This marked the first time the executive training programme was hosted in Mongolia, offering 33 delegates from 21 UN Tourism Member and Associate Member States a firsthand experience of the country’s living nomadic heritage and evolving cultural tourism offerings.

The training provided a high-level platform for knowledge exchange, including a special opening forum, four thematic sessions, and a technical tour. Discussions addressed the tourism-culture nexus with particular focus on, governance and policy frameworks, community-driven cultural tourism, enterprise development and innovation and future frontiers in cultural tourism.

Countries including Indonesia, Thailand, Nepal, the Republic of Korea, Fiji, and Bhutan shared success stories, emphasizing stakeholder participation, inclusive approaches, and the preservation of tangible and intangible heritage.

Leading sustainable tourism expert Professor Joseph M. Cheer guided the programme with global insights and local case studies. Keynote speakers in the opening session included Professor Cheer, Shin Hyun Chul of Jeju Tourism Organization, and Battulga Tumurdash, President of the Mongolian Tourism Organization.

Harry Hwang, Director of UN Tourism’s Asia and the Pacific Regional Department, underlined the theme’s timeliness:

“Culture is not just a source of identity; it is a transformative force in tourism. The stories, traditions, and creative energy embedded in our communities are essential for building more inclusive and resilient destinations.”

Launched in 2006, the UN Tourism Asia-Pacific Executive Training Programme is a key capacity-building initiative aimed at equipping tourism leaders with practical tools and strategies. As tourism sectors recover and adapt post-pandemic, insights from Ulaanbaatar are expected to guide future planning rooted in culture, sustainability, and community empowerment.