As I had expected, number of tourists visiting Ladakh this year has nosedived in comparison to earlier years. As per Mr. Talat Parvaiz, Director Tourism Kashmir, 1.37lakh tourists have visited Ladakh this year (source). While in 2012, over 1.79 lakh tourists had visited Ladakh and that was when tourist numbers were flat in comparison to the earlier year (1.79lakh in 2011 as well, source), thanks to continuing tension along the LAC.
Cloudburst and flash floods in Uttarakhand and Himachal (which had no bearing in Ladakh) and continued tensions along the Line of Actual Control (ceasefire line with China) were the primary reason why many people cancelled their planned trip to Ladakh and missed out on visiting this beautiful region. Even though it was completely unaffected by nature’s fury and only the routes along the LAC (rarely visited by tourists) saw any hint of rising tension between India and China, and that too in the form of traffic restrictions imposed by the administration and army.
For Ladakhis, things just couldn’t have been worse. On one hand they repeatedly heard about their land being violated by PLA and on the other hand, tourism industry (which is a major source of revenue and employment for the region) saw a major downturn.
For people like me, who love Ladakh and the people there, it is just heart wrecking. Especially when we knew that there was absolutely no risk in traveling to Ladakh this year, and we tried our best to convey the same to those cancelling their plans, but failed in the face of sensationalist headlines by the media.
At the end of the day, I know I love Ladakh and I will keep going back there, again and again, irrespective of what others think or do. And I will also continue to promote Ladakh the best I can, because I know, a lot of people in Ladakh depend on tourism for their livelihood and because everyone should see, what I got to see, when I first visited Ladakh in 2005, and fell in love with.
Me in Nubra Valley, Ladakh. September 2005.
7 Comments
Maybe its bad but lesser is better. Perhaps better quality travelers better than quantity. I will go back again and again as long as I can afford to .. 🙂
Issac, fewer tourists means less revenue for the locals involved in tourism industry. Furthermore, if tourists numbers fall and people become less interested or scared to visit Ladakh, state government wouldn’t have the power to make central government and army open more border areas for tourism i.e. similar or fewer places to visit for us and that can ultimately give China more leeway to capture Indian territory.
Yogesh, I’m afraid I agree with Isaac. Fewer, better quality tourists (those like you, who care about Ladakh and it’s culture, rather than those who treat Ladakh like a ‘Goa with sweaters’ kind of destination) are better for Ladakh in the long run, IMHO.
And, if we have to count on tourism to keep China from capturing more territories in Ladakh, then God help us! 🙂
Amit, those sort of people have always been there, earlier in the form of bike groups, who used to paint roads, rocks and what not with their group name and then get drunk and fight with local and now in the form of those, who want to do it as quickly as possible, to tick it off their list and say they have been there. Heck I have seen so called motorcycle tourers who having done Ladakh, stood at Rohtang Jot, shouting slogans of their glory, while drinking booze and then riding drunk to Manali in a vary rash manner. And this was in 2007!
Frankly speaking, I don’t see Ladakh getting ruined anymore than what it was 5-6 years ago. Yes the locals will have a better lifestyle and might not be forced to travel to other parts of India, in order to find work!
Hey, I was there in 2007 too! Though not in a group, was solo on my bike. Perhaps we passed each other on the way from Leh back to Manali! 🙂
Yep, yep, agree with you on both points. The biker ‘groups’ who treat Ladakh simply like a backdrop for their bike club’s achievements are certainly a discredit to riders as a whole. And yes, it would be great if the locals could make a decent living from tourism.
But the selfish side of me still wants it to be very difficult to reach Pangong. So I don’t see crowds of people picnicking and drinking on the shores there someday. Perhaps the solution lies in stricter tourist rules with no compromises and quick enforcement. Anyway, the army is already there… 🙂
Ride up to Merak Village and you will see hardly any tourists. Alternatively, check out Mitpal Tso, Kyun Tso etc. which don’t attract tourists and are quite beautiful.
Useful tips, thanks!