TravTalk India Online Magazine
Border tourism in the state to be promoted by boosting confidence of locals. The Union Territory Administration will soon launch its tourism policy, in which border tourism will be included. The centre recently announced to construct four new airports and 37 helipads to increase air connectivity to the region.
Janice Alyosius
Ladakh administration is emphasizing on promoting border tourism in the region, and at the same time, the UT is focusing on preserving its environment, ecology & culture through responsible and sustainable tourism.
The GoI has announced air connectivity to Ladakh by planning to construct four new airports and 37 helipads. Border areas are sparsely populated and it is necessary to bring the communities into the mainstream, explains K Mehboob Ali Khan, IRS, Secretary Tourism and Culture, Administration of U.T. of Ladakh.
Though, Border tourism was not popular in Ladakh due to restrictions of the border areas. “The Administration has done away with the ILP for domestic tourists though an environmental fee needs to be paid in Leh,” he said and informed that the administration will launch its tourism policy, with Border tourism.
Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, Lok Sabha MP, BJP Ladakh, said the UT has potential in the tourism sector. Ladakh has been an attraction for international tourists since 1974. The U.T. will be organising a month-long Winter Sports Festival for the adventure enthusiasts in Feb next year to promote winter tourism.
Rupinder Brar, IRS, ADG, MOT mentioned that border tourism will enhance the lifestyle of the people in Ladakh’s rural areas and create employment opportunities for the locals.
Brar says that physical connectivity is crucial for the travellers and service providers. “In last few years, there has been a reasonable thrust on development of infrastructure such as roads and telecom towers, which has brought both physical and digital connectivity in the region in a bid to promote tourism in the State,” Brar says.
