Ladakh witnesses renewed tourist footfall after Pahalgam setback

After a temporary setback in the wake of the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor, tourists have once again started arriving in Ladakh, bringing a sigh of relief to locals who heavily depend on tourism for their livelihood.

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The tourist influx had come to a halt after a group of armed terrorists killed 26 people in Pahalgam, Kashmir. In response, the armed forces launched Operation Sindoor, during which airspace in the region was closed. Several foreign governments also issued travel advisories cautioning their citizens against visiting the area.

Ladakh’s proximity to Pakistan in the west and China in the east added to the apprehension even among domestic travellers. With no tourists arriving after April 22, local tour operators had appealed to the government for support.

“It is after a gap of almost two months that tourists have started arriving in the UT. While most are coming by road, the number of flights is also steadily increasing,” said PT Kunzang, Chairman of the Ladakh Tourist Trade Alliance.

According to Kunzang, tourism had dropped to just 20–30 per cent of last year’s numbers during the same period. The Ladakh administration had earlier planned to operate at least 22 flights daily during the peak season. Currently, Leh airport is handling 14–16 flights a day.

Interestingly, Chang La, located at an altitude of over 5,300m, witnessed snowfall on Tuesday. The pass lies on the route from Leh to Pangong Lake.

While tourist numbers at Pangong Lake remain low, locals report a gradual return of visitors. Meanwhile, the Nubra valley—famous for its sand dunes and double-humped camels—has seen a significant rise in tourist footfall in recent days.

Tsering Dorje, a local tour operator, said, “We feared there would be no tourists at all this year, and those in the industry were bracing for the worst. But due to summer vacations in schools across the country and the improving situation in the region, people have shed their fears and are once again choosing to explore Ladakh.”

Multiple tourism stakeholder associations had earlier met Ladakh Lieutenant Governor BD Mishra (retd) to request a relief package for the industry. A delegation also met Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during her recent visit to the UT, seeking financial support.

In a bid to revive tourism, tour operators launched the campaign ‘Ladakh is Waiting’, aiming to reassure travellers and boost the region’s tourism-dependent economy.