(LISA HAORAN WANG )

 Getting it right  

The residents of Hulun Buir are certainly taking advantage of the opportunities presented by tourism. Unfortunately, in both the grasslands and Russian villages, the local residents offer services that are rather one-dimensional and simply mimic what their neighbors have already done. This is a pity because the region offers great potential for innovative tourist programs.

For example, since the Mongols who live on the Hulun Buir grasslands have to be energy conscious by necessity, they could also develop eco-tourism and environmental learning programs. Among the Russian villages, residents are focused only on converting their homes to guesthouses without developing other services or activities. Of course, it will take some support from the government or private organizations to help the residents learn the management, marketing, and educational skills necessary to create more innovative tourism programs. Otherwise, they will remain dependent on city tour operators to bring them business, putting them in a vulnerable and rather passive position. Despite the potential, it remains to be seen how tourism development in this small corner of Inner Mongolia will impact its rural residents and their traditional cultures.