Resources for Intensive Tourism Development: The Case of Dornod Aimag

Mongolia has identified sustainable tourism as a key priority in its national development policy, aligned with the Millennium Development Goals. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the country set a target of receiving more than one million tourists annually. However, regional tourism resources remain underutilized, while the quality and accessibility of tourism products and services are still insufficient. This study investigates the tourism potential of Dornod aimag, Mongolia, with the aim of identifying pathways for intensive and sustainable development. Data were collected from 253 domestic tourists who had either traveled to Dornod within the last five years or expressed interest in visiting. The study employs a mixed-methods approach, combining a tourist survey (analyzed with descriptive statistics, factor analysis, and regression) with a SWOT-TOWS analysis of the Dornod aimag’s socio-economic and ecological context. The findings show that tourist satisfaction is strongly influenced by historical and cultural heritage, natural and ecological resources, economic assets, and the quality of travel services. Young people aged 18–35 demonstrated the highest level of interest in traveling. Although a tourism ecosystem has not yet been fully established in Dornod, the results highlight considerable opportunities for developing both domestic and international tourism by leveraging mining, cultural resources, natural assets, infrastructure, and the province’s geographical location. This study emphasizes the importance of positioning the eastern region as a tourism hub by developing services that showcase its unique culture and traditions to domestic and foreign visitors. It also provides practical recommendations for policymakers and tourism entrepreneurs in shaping sustainable tourism development policies and practices.