Chairman/Chief Executive Councillor of LAHDC Leh, Tashi Gyalson, convened a key meeting with tourism stakeholders to review the ongoing tourism season and reaffirm Ladakh's status as a safe and welcoming destination. The meeting was held in the presence of Deputy Commissioner/CEO, LAHDC Leh, Santosh Sukhadeve on May 5.

The tourism delegation included, P.T. Kunzang, President, Ladakh Tourism Trade Alliance (LTTA); Tsewang Dorjey, President, All Ladakh Tour Operators Association (ALTOA); Rigzin Lachic, President, All Ladakh Hotel and Guest House Association (ALHGHA); Tsewang Namgyal, General Secretary, ALTOA; Norboo Wangchuk, General Secretary, ALHGHA and Nawang Tashi, Vice President.

The stakeholders shared that tourists from across the country have begun arriving and are actively exploring various parts of Ladakh. They reaffirmed the sector’s commitment to offering warm hospitality, accurate information, and full support to all visitors.

The delegation expressed appreciation for the increased number of VPN registration counters, which has streamlined the process of issuing Protected Area Permits (PAP) for foreign tourists. They also requested that the Hill Council take up the matter with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to grant regional registration authority powers to the DC/CEO Leh for better administrative efficiency.

Additionally, an appeal was made for the early opening of the Leh–Manali road, a key route for incoming tourists. In response, the CEC assured that the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and Project Himank are actively working on road restoration, with all efforts aimed at reopening the route soon.

Concerns were also raised about misinformation being circulated in certain public domains that falsely portray Ladakh as unsafe for tourists. CEC firmly clarified that Ladakh remains a safe and secure destination for travel. He urged visitors to disregard such unfounded rumours and reiterated the Hill Council’s unwavering commitment to promoting tourism.

He assured that all necessary measures for the safety and well-being of tourists are in place, and the Council will continue to work closely with the UT Administration to address any concerns.

The meeting concluded with CEC Tashi Gyalson reaffirming that Ladakh welcomes tourists with open arms and that the administration, along with tourism stakeholders, is fully prepared for the ongoing season. He also noted that more destinations are likely to open by June, further boosting tourism opportunities in the region.