GER to GER Mongolia
The Team
NORTHERN MONGOLIA;
Selenge, Bulgan, Ovorkhangai, Arkhangai, Khuvsgul
EASTERN MONGOLIA;
Hentii, Dornogobi, Sukhbaatar, Dornod
“Out of the Ordinary Stays” Worldwide
SOUTHERN MONGOLIA;
Gobi Desert, Dundgobi, Bayanhongor, Choir, Umnugobi
WESTERN MONGOLIA;
Gobi Altai, Zavkhan, Uvs, Khovd, Bayan Olgii & Tavan Bogd
GER to GER Mongolia is 100% COMMITTED TO COMMUNITY BASED TOURISM DEVELOPMENT
QUICK FACtS: GER TO GER’s GEOTOURISM in MONGOLIA & SUPPORT FOR THE UN’S SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
Ger to Ger’s multi-prong approach (human, social economics, environment) towards development ensures rural community mobilization, non-exploitation, gender empowerment of both women & men, innovation, and more.
1. HUMAN EMPOWERMENT: COMMUNITY BASED TOURISM (CBT) TEAM in MONGOLIA
Over 95% of our entire team is comprised of 200+ rural-based/self-managed networks of locals (nomadic families, start/end point drivers for pickups/dropoffs, etc), hence “community based tourism”, as we are a passionate team that deeply desires to leave minimal negative traces on our planet and communities via rurually basing the majority of our operations across Mongolia that directly reduces the amount of vehicle usages leaving Ulaanbaatar, etc., which GREATLY minimizes our carbon footprints.
- GER to GER Mongolia has also become the world’s first social enterprise (community-based ecotourism) to sustainably work with nomadic families across Mongolia for 15+ years.
- Today, over 90% of GER to GER Mongolia‘s administration is managed by women across Mongolia.
- GER to GER Mongolia has a strong humanitarian outreach components endeavor to create sustainable alternative-livelihoods for
remotely located nomadic families and rural communities. - GER to GER Mongolia’s works have generated decades of recognitions: The Amazing Race, National Geographic Society, Ashoka Changemakers, UNESCAP, Lonely Planet, Rough Guides, New York Magazine, USA TODAY, etc.
2. Social Economic Development: SoCIAL ENTERPRISE
Today, GER to GER’s Humanitarian Trips (Live Like a Local) are 100% managed, led, operated and outsourced by rural inhabitants:
- GER to GER Mongolia’s Nomadic families (human resource, cultural resource, horses, camels, livestock, etc.)
- GER to GER Mongolia’s Rural community human resources (drivers, guides, facilitators, etc.)
- Rural accommodations
- Food and drink (rural shops, hotels, nomadic families, etc.)
- Rural transportation (buses, jeeps, cars, etc.)
- Rurally owned businesses
- Etc.
3. CLIMATE CHANGE Mitigation POLICY: Environmental PROTECTION
Before this initiative began in June 2005, great consideration towards environmental conservation had been taken and incorporated into its daily operational design. By incorporating public transportation, limiting rural vehicle usage, and mainly relying on nomadic forms of transportation between nomadic families over wide geographic ranges and etc., greatly reduces our carbon footprint.
- 100% of GER to GER Mongolia’s Humanitarian Trips have incorporated both public transportation and rural vehicle-pooling.
- 99% of GER to GER Mongolia’s Humanitarian Trips use rural village vehicles for drop off/pick up from points on a travel route; 1 or 2 exceptions.
- Over 99% of traveling time from Ger to Ger – locals incorporate environmentally friendly travel practices such as walking, trekking, horses, ox carts, etc.
- Over 95% of GER to GER Mongolia’s nomadic families use either fallen wood and/or animal dung for heating their and travelers’ Yurts as well as making food.
- Over 99% of all GER to GER Mongolia’s nomadic families that have access to electricity generate it via solar panel or wind instead of fuel burning generators.
4. GER to GER Mongolia has PASSED 100% ALL INTERNATIONAL DUE-DILIGENCES…
In 2005, we started Ger to Ger Agency aiming to make our substantial contribution towards community development, nature conservation and more. Till today, we have trained and empowered around 200+ nomads, locals throughout Mongolia, 1000s of travelers from around the world. We offer more than 50 itineraries that focus on exploration and educational cultural adventures that share a broad understanding about nomadic lifestyle and Mongolia.
5. THE REASON for PEOPLE to TRAVEL WITH GER TO GER Mongolia
We believe that creating business opportunities with a social focus is the most direct means to improve the lives of thousands of families. Ger to Ger has been bringing each year over 300+ million tugrugs in economic benefits for the rural economy of which over 140 million tugrugs so far have been allocated towards nomadic families that we work with. Owing to our poverty reduction innovations, GER to GER is recognized, published and accredited by many internationally famed agencies and institutions such as National Geographic Society in 2009 as “One of the World’s Innovative Travel Entrepreneurs”, officially recommended by UNESCAP in 2010 as an excellent example of community based tourism initiative for Asia and Pacific regions and much more!
Geotourism is defined as tourism that sustains or enhances the distinctive geographical character of a place—its environment, heritage, aesthetics, culture, and the well-being of its residents.
CERTIFIED NATGEO
GEOTOURISM AMBASSADOR
Mr. Zanjan Fromer of GER to GER has been a National Geographic Society CERTIFIED GEOtourism Ambassador since February 2010.
Mr. Fromer’s works in developing GER to GER was selected as a Top 10 Global Finalist of National Geographic’s Geotourism Challenge, and subsequently was AWARDED a Ministry’s Medal of Honor for Leadership in 2015.
MR. ZANJAN Timothy FROMER
SOLE AUTHOR OF GER TO GER (2002-04), FOUNDER/CEO/CMO
NATGEO D.C. HQ CERTIFIED GEOTOURISM AMBASSADOR / FIELD SPECIALIST & CBT DEVELOPER
Mr. Zanjan Fromer, Alaskan born Native American half-breed (Alaskan Tlingit-Hawaiian Native), is an International Field Specialist with a long history in film, reality tv, mass media/marketing, tourism and social economic development fields for well over 30+ years; in Alaska, across Mongolia and beyond. Mr. Fromer arrived in Mongolia in 1994 and was invited to join the first USAID Teams to Mongolia (1998/99-2003) that assisted Mongolia through its post Soviet Transition to strengthen its rural to international supply/value/experience chains around the world; meat, tourism and cashmere industries via Rapid Expeditionary Development & Mass Media/International Marketing Initiatives, etc.
As Mr. Zanjan Fromer has a very impressive and long history of social economic advancement via rapid expeditionary development (Ministry Medal of Honor and more) – if you desire to learn more about Mr. Fromer we highly recommend that you visit his professional sites at: Zanjan-Fromer.com | terraPRO.media | terraPRO.marketing
Quick Historical Note: GER to GER was researched/drafted from 2002-2003 and from 2003 to 2005 Mr. Fromer spent a couple year searching for donor assistance. In 2005, The Swiss Agency for International Development and Cooperation (via SDC Mission Director Markus Dubach) assisted with pilot funds for Arkhangai Province, in 2007 USAID assisted with funds for Dundgovi Province (via USAID Mission Director Skip Waskins / Mercy Corps International) to which GER to GER became operationally sustainable and started to self-finance its own expansions to new Provinces across Mongolia.
MRS. BAYARSUREN YALALT
CO-FOUNDER/COO/OWNER, MBA & UK oxford university msC
FIELD SPECIALIST & CBT DEVELOPER
Mrs. Bayarsuren Yalalt graduated top of her class with a Masters Degree in Tourism Business and Management as well as studied at Oxford University for her MSc of Environmental Change and Management with the generous support of the Prime Minister of Mongolia (Awarded the Prime Minister’s Scholarship). Mrs. Yalalt has co-founded GERtoGER with Mr. Fromer, she is a massively driven to assist nomadic families connect with the greater tourism industry. Mrs. Yalalt and Mr. Fromer have spearheaded all rural-to-international development initiatives as well as all global Expo marketing works that have led to a greater industry awareness about Mongolia’s Nomadic CBTs. Today in addition to working with rural Mongolia, Mrs. Yalalt remains locally active via industry and Ministry-level working groups that desire to advance Mongolia’s tourism industry both domestically and internationally.
Mrs. Yalalt has also been recognized by the Mongolian Tourism Association for her years of contributions towards the development of Mongolia’s Tourism Industry.
SINCE 2005, GER TO GER Mongolia HAS ADVANCED MONGOLIA’s COMMUNITY BASED TOURISM
Mongolian Community Based Tourism In Arkhangai Province
Today, Mr. Nerguibaatar, Rural facilitator manages the local team – this is a testament to locals taking 100% ownership of their community based tourism operations. Nerguibaatar was born in central part of Mongolia and raised in mountainous river valley – a nomadic herder. He is a real bottom up leader who delivers his support to communities for rural development initiatives – especially – those programs focused on educating nomads about carrying capacity of pasture and nature conservation. In order to maintain mother earth, he encourages his community to reduce exposure of livestock to mature pastures with rehabilitation (via seeding) and monitoring livestock numbers.
GER to GER in association with international partners have renovated and equipped handful schools with new study materials and equipment.
Mongolian Community Based Tourism in Bulgan
GER to GER Mongolia’s Bulgan Province nomadic community based tourism endeavors have been strongly ongoing for over 10 years within the Khogan Khan National Park. This is a testament to Mrs. Yalalt who spearheaded the development of this nomadic community from planning till the community because self-operational.
This is an incredible case study as Mrs. Yalalt is a local who took up the challenge to foster a nomadic community – thus – locals helping locals.
GER to GER MONGOLIA’s COMMUNITY BASED TOURISM SPIN-OFF BENEFITS
GER to GER in association with international partners (Doctors Without Borders, etc.) conducted “Free Health Clinic” that involved 5,000+ locals.
Mongolian Community Based Tourism in Terelj National Park
GER to GER Mongolia’s Terelj National Park has been operating since 2005 winter – it was one of the earliest nomadic communities that engaged in community based tourism. Terelj’s noteworthiness derives from being GER to GER’s first community based tourism endeavor to operate in winter thus making it Mongolia’s FIRST all-season community based tourism initiative within Mongolia.
GER to GER MONGOLIA’s COMMUNITY BASED TOURISM SPIN-OFF BENEFITS
For several years, GER to GER in association with international partners have renovated a handful kindergartens and schools in Terelj National Park and the greater Hentii Province.
BRIEF BACKGROUND
Mrs. Battsetseg, Rural Facilitator, took the responsibility of becoming the first female manager of Terelj National Park’s community tourism initiative. As for her history, she has four daughters and 6 grandchildren, she was born in the eastern Mongolia and married to her husband from the same region. Following her sick mother, she migrated to central Mongolia decades ago – while she was settling down in the new region she was faced with the challenges of starting from zero – hence she joined to Ger to Ger. Earnings from tourism has successfully paid for all her daughters’ educational tuitions and moreover she now personally owns hundreds of animals. In additional to her personal successes, she helped one of her team members to obtain a hip replacement surgery.
Mongolian Community Based Tourism in DUNDGOVI PROVINCE
GER to GER MOngolia’s Dundgovi has always in a “transit province” for folks desiring to go to the famed Gobi Desert Sand Dunes… in late 2006/early 2007 – GER to GER was chosen by USAID to expand this Province’s potential into a fully operational “tourism in-country destination”.
BRIEF BACKGROUND
Since those successful works, Mrs. Narangarav, Rural Facilitator, took the helm and Dundgovi hence became 100% operational by locals of the region. Regardless of how rapid desertification covered the majority of her region already, she still believes that tourism could slow down the process of land degradation and keep biological uniqueness for residents. She is a power-player for the greater good in the gobi region who wants to share the positive aspects of the tourism industry’s social economic benefits with as many locals as possible.
GER to GER MONGOLIA’s COMMUNITY BASED TOURISM SPIN-OFF BENEFITS
GER to GER in association with international traveler donations carried-out a “Climatic Disaster Relief” for local nomadic families that were devastated by harsh winter storms.
Mongolian Community Based Tourism in DUNDGOVI’s STRICTLY PROTECTED NATIONAL PARK
Owing to the uniqueness and distance of Ih Gazriin Chuluu, Mrs. Norovsambuu, became the Rural Facilitator in her region.
BRIEF BACKGROUND
Norovsambuu enjoys spending her free time to play a variety of sports games and while raising her three children; her husband is the national park ranger. Sometimes she accompanies her husband to check around the national park and participate in any volunteer activities. One of her proudest accomplishments is making her inputs towards community development and nature conservation projects in her region via Ger to Ger.
Mongolian Community Based Tourism at KHUVSGUL lake
BRIEF BACKGROUND
Mrs. Nyamdavaa, Rural Facilitator, likewise took the helm thus Khuvsgul Region became 100% operational by the locals. Nyamdavaa is a mother of three children and an excellent sister to her siblings. Though she lost her parents years ago, she never stopped showing her kindness and love to her family members as well as to her nomadic community. She has successfully facilitated to implement “Rural school/kindergarten decoration” projects in her region with assistants of responsible travelers.
GER to GER MONGOLIA’s COMMUNITY BASED TOURISM SPIN-OFF BENEFITS
For several years, GER to GER in association with international partners have renovated a handful kindergartens and schools in Khuvsgul Provinces.
GER to GER Mongolia’s DRIVERS & GUIDES
BRIEF BACKGROUND – GER to GER MONGOLIA’s DRIVERS
Our countryside-experienced drivers are crucial part of our engine and they worked from +40C to -40C with us for many years across Mongolia. GER to GER only works with tested, tried and proven drivers as most roads throughout Mongolia are not paved asphalt that are nothing more than dirt tracks, sand and rocky terrain. GER to GER’s experienced drivers will take you safely across Mongolia to remote places of great beauty, unique cultures, nature, history, and archeology.
BRIEF BACKGROUND – GER TO GER MONGOLIA’s LOCAL GUIDES
All of our guides have completed Red Cross recognized First Aid training programs as well as all essential guiding skills programs focused on safety and client care by the Mongolian Professional Guide Association.