Leh Hill Council vows full support for tourists, counters rumours

As the tourism season gains momentum in Ladakh, chairman of the Leh Hill Council, Tashi Gyalson, held a comprehensive meeting with key stakeholders from the region’s tourism sector, calling for full preparedness to welcome and support visitors.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioner Leh, Santosh Sukhadeve, and prominent members of the tourism fraternity, including PT Kunzang, president of the Ladakh Tourism Trade Alliance (LTTA); Tsewang Dorjey, president of the All Ladakh Tour Operators Association (ALTOA); Rigzin Lachic, president of the All Ladakh Hotel and Guest House Association (ALHGHA); Tsewang Namgyal, general secretary of ALTOA; and Norboo Wangchuk, general secretary of ALHGHA.

The delegation briefed the Chairman that tourists from across the country have already begun arriving and are exploring various parts of Ladakh. They reaffirmed the local tourism sector’s commitment to providing a warm welcome, essential services, and reliable information to all visitors.

They raised the issue of the process of obtaining Protected Area Permits (PAP) for foreign tourists. The delegation requested that the Ministry of Home Affairs be approached to grant the Deputy Commissioner of Leh powers as a regional registration authority to streamline the process.

The delegation requested for the early opening of the Leh–Manali road. In response, Gyalson informed that the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and Project Himank are working to restore the route, with efforts underway to open it at the earliest.

The tourism representatives also highlighted misinformation circulating online and offline that wrongly portrays Ladakh as unsafe for tourists. Addressing this, Gyalson assured that Ladakh remains a safe and welcoming destination, and urged visitors to ignore baseless rumours. He also reiterated that the Hill Council is committed to promoting tourism and will address tourists’ concerns with UT Administration for further steps.

J & K