Meet The Founders of EL
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Jessica Brooks (Jess)
Jess, an experienced international tour leader, developed a deep passion for Mongolia, where she has been based since 2006. In 2010, she co-founded Eternal Landscapes with Turuu, challenging traditional tourism perceptions of the country. Eternal Landscapes operates as a social enterprise, embodying Jessica’s belief in tourism as a powerful agent for societal transformation, focusing on women’s empowerment, economic growth, social justice, and minimizing tourism leakage.
Since the foundation of Eternal Landscapes, Jessica has been integral in creating unique experiences in Mongolia, a country she has gradually become part of. Although not a natural businesswoman, her love for Mongolia is genuine, as is her belief in EL and what it can achieve. She couldn’t and wouldn’t do it without the loyalty, inspiration, and friendship of her Mongolian team.
Her impactful work has earned her recognition as a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. Jessica’s dedication to Mongolia and her drive for meaningful change through responsible tourism are testaments to her professional and personal ethos. This is further evidenced by Eternal Landscapes being honored as the Gender Equality Champion by Equality In Tourism International.
If all of this were to disappear tomorrow, Jess would turn her focus to establishing a community library, embracing the simple pleasures of skinny dipping and stargazing. Currently, Jess is supporting her mother and spending more time in the UK on the edge of Dartmoor National Park in Devon. Inspired by the effects of modern life on nature and wildlife on this wild space, she has also founded a local wildlife community organisation to make a positive impact – Wild Oke.
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- Read more in Jess’s conversation with Equality In Tourism – https://www.equalityintourism.org/eternal-landscapes-interview/
- Listen to Jess talking with Christine Winebrenner Irick, the host of the award-winning podcast “Soul of Travel,” which educates and inspires listeners to embrace mindful travel and celebrate women making a positive impact in tourism – https://www.souloftravelpodcast.com/season-5/episode167-jessica-brooks
- Learn about travelling responsibly in Mongolia through Jess’s conversation with EL Camino Travel (a travel membership for women with a passion for culture) – https://www.elcamino.travel/journal/jessica-brooks-responsible-travel-mongolia
Enkhtur Arildiipurev (Turuu)
Turuu, co-founder of Eternal Landscapes, leads the Mongolian team with over 30 years of experience in the tourism sector. He possesses an ‘old soul’ and a deep respect for Mongolia, along with a natural talent for driving, mechanics, and improvisation. Additionally, he excels at leading a small team. While he is happiest with the freedom of the open road, he is remarkably adept at managing operations via mobile phone from a windswept campsite somewhere in Mongolia.
Born into a herding family in one of Mongolia’s rural provinces, Turuu has spent the past 20 years living in the ger districts of Ulaanbaatar. This unique background allows him to understand and address Mongolia’s urban-rural disparities, driving his dedication to social progress.
A highlight of Jess and Turuu’s commitment is ‘Chandmana Erdene CIC’, an initiative designed to provide long-term, structured educational tourism training for Mongolian women. Additionally, it will offer employment opportunities for older men, who often face challenges related to societal issues like toxic masculinity. This holistic approach ensures the project contributes positively to the broader social fabric of our beloved Mongolia.
