Sustainable travel is:

"Tourism that meets the needs of present tourists and host regions while protecting and enhancing opportunities for the future."


We, the team of Ayan Trails, recognise that a clean and safe environment is critical to our success. So we follow the principles to design and conduct tours that minimise their negative environmental, social and economic impacts while optimising their benefits.

To develop and implement these tools in their own operations, and encourage other tour operators to do the same, we join and fully support the Tour Operators' Initiative for Sustainable Tourism Development, a tour operators’ open assosiation registered in Switzerland

With this Initiative, tour operators are moving towards sustainable tourism by committing themselves to the concepts of sustainable development as the core of their business activity and to work together through common activities to promote and disseminate methods and practices compatible with sustainable development.


Statement of Commitment to Sustainable Tourism Development

1. Commitment to sustainable developmet and management of Tourism
1.1 We regard Sustainable Tourism Development as a guiding concept for the sound management of our business.

1.2 We define Sustainable Development as development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

1.3 We are committed to developing, operating and marketing tourism in a sustainable manner; that is, all forms of tourism which make a positive contribution to the natural and cultural environment, which generate benefits for the host communities, and which do not put at risk the future livelihood of local people.

1.4 As Tour Operators we believe that we can be important contributors to Sustainable Tourism Development. We will strive to anticipate and prevent economic, environmental, social and cultural degradation. We will work towards integrating these considerations into our operations and activities.

2. Principles of sustainable development and management of tourism
2.1 We recognise that tourism can contribute to the viability of local economies. We also recognise that tourism can have negative impacts on the economy, environment, nature, social structures and local cultures. In the long-term interest of host communities and of our industry, we will endeavour to prevent or minimise these impacts.

2.2 We are committed to complying with local, national and international laws and regulations applicable to our business activities.

2.3 We oppose and actively discourage illegal, abusive or exploitative forms of tourism.

2.4 We are committed to a continual attempt to improve our performance in the context of sustainable development and management of tourism.

2.5 We will manage and monitor the environmental, cultural and social impacts of our activities.

2.6 We will strive to pursue the best practices in all our activities - internally and when forming business relationships with partners, suppliers and sub-contractors - especially with regard to:

- responsible use of natural resources (e.g. land, soil, energy, water)
- reducing, minimizing and preventing pollution and waste (e.g. solid and liquid waste, emissions to air)
- conserving plants, animals, ecosystems and protected areas (biodiversity)
- conserving landscapes, cultural and natural heritage
- respecting the integrity of local cultures and avoiding negative effects on social structures
- involving, and co-operating with, local communities and people
- using local products and skills

2.7 We will encourage our partners, suppliers and sub-contractors to improve their contribution to sustainable development and management of tourism, and will work with them and share information to assist in this.

2.8 We will seek greater co-operation within the tourism industry and between this industry and the public sector in order to further Sustainable Tourism.

2.9 We shall encourage and seek to co-operate with national and local authorities, local communities, or any other interested party, to develop and implement the integrated planning and management of destinations in order to preserve the quality and sustainability of these destinations.

2.10 We will develop these principles into a corporate policy. As part of this we will define measurable goals, and will monitor and report publicly on our progress.

3. Public awareness and communication

3.1 We wish to create awareness and active involvement among our customers towards the natural, social and cultural environment of the places they visit. We further wish to encourage host communities and our customers to develop a better understanding and mutual respect for one another.

3.2 We will endeavour in our public communication and advertising to promote behaviour and activities compatible with the principles of sustainable development and management of tourism.

3.3 We will encourage other tour operators to support this Statement.


Ayan Trails contributes local businesses and family earnings :
We have developed unique relationships with many local and nomadic peoples of the region and as tourism is becoming one of the main economical sectors of Mongolia, we are committed to making sure that the tourist economy benefits the local people. We work with locally owned hotels and tourist Ger camps directly – these camps in the countryside hire local staff, creating thousands of employment opportunities and ensuring that money goes directly into the community. Although the tourist season is limited, this income allows country dwellers enough food and supplies to survive the harsh winters. In most trips we employ local wranglers and guides in addition to guide-interpreterst, which again places funds directly in the pockets of local families. As a result of this principle we have numerious contracted staff as local guides, horse and camel owners, drivers and host families in Gobi, Khuvsgul, Arkhangai, Khovd and Zavkhan regions.