Ladakh Expects Tourist Diversion After Pahalgam Carnage

SRINAGAR: The administration of the Union Territory of Ladakh is hoping for tourist diversion in the aftermath of the terror attack in Pahalgam and has asked the stakeholders to prepare for a potential rush of the holidaymakers in the scenic landlocked region in coming months.

Tuesday’s deadly attack in Baisaran meadow, about five kilometres from Pahalgam town, fanned security concerns among thousands of domestic (Indian) tourists who were holidaying in Kashmir, prompting them to return home in mass hurriedly. Also, the incident has led to vast cancellations of scheduled visits to the scenic Valley.

This scenario has fostered optimism and a belief in Leh that it can lead to diversions and a large number of tourists will change their planned itinerary and instead of the Kashmir Valley will visit neighbouring Ladakh for spending their holidays.

Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Brigadier (retired) BD Mishra on Thursday sought cooperation from the stakeholders to welcome tourists in Ladakh in wake of terrorist attack in Pahalgam. “In view of the cowardly attack on innocent tourists by the armed terrorists in Pahalgam, in which around 26 people lost their lives, the Lt. Governor appealed to all stakeholders and sought their assistance in welcoming tourists with open arms and take all necessary measures to increase the footfall of tourists in Ladakh,” an official statement issued in Leh said.

The Lt. Governor, however, also said, “Nobody wants Kashmir’s economy-which is dependent on tourism, as majority of people in areas such as Pahalgam are dependent on tourism for their livelihood- to suffer.”

Mr. Mishra while asserting that tourism is the lifeline of people of Ladakh as majority of people are engaged in tourism activities for their livelihood, urged the tourist traders and other stakeholders of the region “to welcome and support tourists and not indulge in any malpractices that might hamper the footfall of tourists in Ladakh and affect the livelihood opportunities of its people.” He said that, going by the trend, he was expecting more tourists to visit Ladakh in 2025 than in 2024.

In 2024, Ladakh which has an unparalleled geo-climatic, topographical and socio-cultural facet witnessed a decline in tourist footfall. As compared to the 525,374 visitors in 2023 only about 376,000 holidaymakers turned up in the region in 2024, representing a decrease of about 150,000 tourists.

Lt. Governor Mr. Mishra said that appropriate action would be taken against the travel advisories issued by the United States and United Kingdom, categorising Ladakh, a separate Union territory since August 2019, under Jammu and Kashmir and “thereby creating confusion and concern among foreign and domestic tourists.”