The Union government on 21 October announced that Siachen area is now open to tourists. Tsering Sandup, Deputy Chairman, Hill council Leh, who also holds the portfolio of tourism thanked Rajnath Singh, Defense Minister on October 25, while inaugurating Col Chewang Rinchen Bridge over Shyok River a week before.

Ministry of Defense announced that Saichen Glaicer, the world’s highest battlefield located at the height of about 18,600 feet from the sea level is now open for the tourists from the base camp up to Kumar Post.
Tsering Sandup in a statement said that the present council has put continuous efforts since long time to open Saichen belt for tourists.He said that this historic and path breaking decision of government will benefit the tourism industry of Ladakh especially in Nubra valley. 

He further added that the potential of adventure tourism in Saichen belt could now be explored which can benefit unemployed youths of Nubra region also. 

Sandup also expressed concern over the possibility of overexploitation of the fragile glacier area and acknowledged the responsibility of Hill Council to formulate a sustainable roadmap for regulating tourism in the area.