AKIPRESS.COM - A project promoting sustainable tourism in Mongolia through UNESCO Cultural and Geo Heritage was launched in Ulaanbaatar on September 16, Montsame reports.

The three-year project supported by the Rio Tinto Mongolia will be implemented through the UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia, based in Beijing, China, and a dedicated team in Mongolia. UNESCO will establish a Project Management Unit (PMU) recruited under the project, based in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

The project is aimed at protecting cultural heritage sites, promoting sustainable tourism in Mongolia through the country's cultural and geo heritage, and improving the livelihood of local communities. The first geopark in Mongolia is planned to be established within the framework of the project.

The launching ceremony was attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chair of the UNESCO National Committee of Mongolia Battsetseg Batmunkh, Director of the UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia Shahbaz Khan, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Mongolia Tapan Mishra, and Country Director of Mongolia at Rio Tinto Amarjargal Khenchbish.