ULAN BATOR, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia is offering Chinese language courses to workers in the tourism sector, local media reported Tuesday, citing the Ministry of Environment and Tourism.

The month-long basic language course starting here on Monday is the first of its kind, the Ministry said in a statement.

A total of 20 workers, including tour guides are attending the course co-organized by the ministry and the Chinese Cultural Center here.

Declaring 2018 as a tourism year, the landlocked country is seeking a greater number of visitors to diversify its mining-dependent economy.

As of the third quarter of this year, Chinese tourists accounted for over 34 percent of total tourist arrivals to Mongolia, according to the ministry.

Currently, tourism accounts for less than five percent of Mongolia's gross domestic product (GDP).

The Asian country aims to raise the tourism industry's GDP contribution to 10 percent in the coming years.