ULAN BATOR, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia's tourism body said Friday it expects to receive 12,000 foreign visitors during its national holiday of Naadam next month.

According to D. Gantumur, president of the Mongolian Tourism Association, a tourist spends an average of 2,000 U.S. dollars in Mongolia.

Last year, the country received over 470,000 foreign tourists, of whom 17 percent visited in July, he said. The landlocked country expects to receive nearly 900,000 foreign tourists in 2018.

Mongolia has been striving to develop its tourism sector in a bid to diversify its mining-dependent economy.

The Naadam Festival, which is on UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage, is an official holiday celebrated every year from July 11 to 15 across the country and features horse racing, archery and wrestling.

Naadam means "games" in the Mongolian language.