Executive Councilor for Tourism and Zanskar Affairs, Er Phunsog Tashi discussed the ways and means to provide better services to the tourists visiting Zanskar Sub Division with the concerned officers on November 15 at Conference Hall, Padum.

Area Development Officer and SDM Zanskar Sonam Dorjay, CEO Zanskar Development Authority, Tourist Officer Zanskar, Presidents of Zanskar Taxi Operators Union, Travel Agencies, Guest Houses, Hoteliers, Home Stays, representative of Zanskar Ski School besides other officers attended the meeting.

Discussion was held on devising various appropriate measures to ensure the provision of satisfactory facilities to the tourists visiting the Sub Division especially during the winter season. It was decided in the meeting that a committee will be framed to conduct checking of the hotels and guest houses to collect information about facilities being provided to the visiting tourists during the winter season especially heating and hot water facilities and submit the report to the SDM Zanskar.

President Travel Agencies underlined the need to check the charging of exorbitant taxi fares by some taxi drivers and also stressed for establishment of parking and camping sites as the tourist influx in Zanskar has now gone up with the opening of the Sub Division from three sides.

EC Tashi directed the SDM and Tourist Officer to review the fares being charged by the taxi drivers from the tourists and other passengers traveling towards Leh via Singhay La, Manali via Shinkula and Kargil via Penzila.

It was informed that ₹80 lakh have been approved by the UT Administration Ladakh for preservation and restoration of heritage sites in Zanskar Valley which include preservation and restoration works of the palaces of Padum, Zangla, and Testa besides Ufti Fort amounting to ₹
20 lakh in each case.

The project for the establishment of camping sites and parking spaces will be submitted to the Tourism Department UT Ladakh in near future.