Within the framework of the Law “On Tourism” newly approved by the Mongolian State Great Khural on May 4, 2023, a decision was made to establish the Tourism Professional Association as a public legal entity on August 21, 2023 as a non-profit public legal entity consisting of tour operators, travel agents, tourism service organizations, tourist guides-interpreters, and community-based tourism entrepreneurs.

At the first meeting of all members on October 24, 2023, the president, first vice president, vice presidents, chairman of the board, members of the board and supervisory board were elected and the association’s charter was approved. The board members are divided into the following six functional committees, each of which is headed by a vice president.

1. Market;
2. Infrastructure;
3. Legal;
4. Training and research;
5. Marketing, e-transition;
6. Product development, event.

The Tourism Professional Association is a public legal entity with an office under its charter, and operates with 10 full-time and 2 contract employees led by the head of the office. The membership structure is divided into branch associations and members. Currently, the following 13 branch associations have been established, differentiated by areas of activity, location, and target market.

1. Central Province Tourism Association;
2. "Cradle of Ancient Nomads" Arkhangai Province Tourism Association;
3. Mongolian Professional Guide Interpreter Association;
4. Khuvsgul Province Tourism Association;
5. Mongolian Hotel Association;
6. European Market Industry Association;
7. American Mongolian Tourism Development Association;
8. Mongolian Korean Market Industry Association;
9. Chinese Market Industry Association;
10. Adventure Special Interest Tourism Professional Association;
11. Mongolian-Japanese Tourism Association;
12. Tourist Camp and Accommodation Industry Association;
13. "Bulgan Khangai" Bulgan Province Tourism Association.
14. Branch Association of CIT Entrepreneurs.

As of September 15, 2024, there were a total of 371 member organizations, including 246 tour operators, 76 tourist camps and resorts, 15 hotels, 21 tourist guides-interpreters, 9 travel agents, 4 community-based tourism operators, 1 international representative office (Freiburg, Germany), and 13 branch associations.

The Tourism Professional Association, a public legal entity, shall implement the following functions.

Improve the management of the tourism industry, empower employees, provide advice and information to stakeholders in the industry, and organize training;

Adopt and improve the code of professional ethics;

1. To cooperate with state, non-state and international organizations and to support the organization of international conferences and events;
2. To maintain the registration of tour operators and travel agents in accordance with Article 6.4 of the Law on Tourism;
3. To ensure the implementation of the procedures for establishing, granting, reducing and cancelling the classification and level of tourism service organizations approved by the Government in accordance with Article 6.5 of the Law on Tourism;
4. To register tourist guides and interpreters in accordance with Article 10.1 of the Law on Tourism;
5. To ensure the implementation of the procedures for issuing, extending, suspending, restoring and cancelling the license of tourist guides and interpreters and establishing the level of professional skills in accordance with Article 10.4 of the Law on Tourism.
6. To determine the policy and strategy of the tourism sector, to develop plans, and to cooperate with stakeholders in the sector;
7. To provide professional advice and information to the tourism sector, stakeholders and the public.