Mongolia will hold its annual reindeer festival at the Dalai Tour tourist camp located on the west shore of Lake Khuvsgul on 6-7 July. The two-day event will include art exhibitions presenting the various handicrafts and the dwellings of the Tsaatan reindeer herder; there will also be  a reindeer relay competition and a mini Naadam sports competition.

The festival is aimed at promoting the unique culture of reindeers, protecting the animal and attracting both domestic and foreign tourists. According to the country’s National Statistics Office, the reindeer population in Mongolia reached 2,396 at the end of 2018, increasing by 167 head compared to the previous year.

The country’s northernmost province of Khuvsgul is an area of amazing beauty; it is often called “Mongolian Switzerland.” Tourism is important for the province; during the winter months many people flock to the famous Khuvsgul Ice Festival. The Mongolian government  has set a goal of hosting 1 million foreign tourists and earning 1 billion U.S. dollars in tourism in 2020. Khuvsgul will remain one of the key destinations.