As part of the government’s “Year to visit Mongolia” (2023–2028) programme and the drive to host one million tourists in 2026, regulations establishing an official “Star” rating system for tourism service providers have been approved.

The new regulations clarify classification and rating standards for accommodation and hospitality services under the Law on Tourism. They are designed to raise service quality and accessibility to align with international norms, create eligibility for government discounts and incentives, and help attract foreign investment to the sector.

Officials say the rules were developed through stakeholder engagement: six roundtable discussions were held with tourism businesses and their recommendations were reflected in the draft. The draft was also published on the Ministry of Culture, Sports, Tourism and Youth website for public comment.

Under the revised rules, categories can now be set for a wider range of operations, including tourist complexes, hotels and tourist resorts, whereas previous rules focused mainly on high-end hotels and resorts. The government says the rating framework will support both quality improvement and tourism-sector competitiveness ahead of the 2026 target.