ULAN BATOR, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Foreign tourist arrivals to Mongolia increased by 39 percent year-on-year in the first quarter of this year, according to data released on Tuesday by the country's Ministry of Culture, Sports, Tourism and Youth.

A total of 143,431 foreign tourists visited the country between January and March, the data showed.

The government views tourism as a vital sector for diversifying Mongolia's economy, which has long relied on export-oriented mining.

However, with a strongly continental climate characterized by long, harsh winters and short summers, Mongolia has traditionally faced seasonal limitations in tourism.

To address this challenge, the government has been promoting the development of year-round tourism. As part of these efforts, it has decided to extend the "Years to Visit Mongolia" program until 2028, aiming to attract at least 1 million foreign tourists annually.

The landlocked country received a total of 846,103 foreign tourists in 2025, up 5 percent from the previous year. ■