Latest news with #Lachic
The Hindu
08-05-2025
- The Hindu
Stranded tourists in Ladakh and Kashmir receive free accommodation and kindness from the hospitality industry
Seventy two year-old Sushama Davar spends half her time in India and the rest in the US. When she arrived for a short trip during the summer months this year, her husband and she decided to flee the heat of Mumbai (where she is based), and planned a trip to Ladakh and Kashmir. 'We were travelling on April 29. Because of the terror attack [in Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22], we cancelled our Kashmir plans and added days to our Ladakh itinerary,' she says. The first few days were spent hiking, trekking and exploring this new, stunning topography. 'It's a once in a lifetime place,' she says. On May 6 though, the news of the airport in Leh shutting down for border security, caused some concern. 'We were on our way to the Pangong Tso lake and our connectivity was not great but we had already heard chatter about the airport being shut down and were a bit disappointed,' she says. In the days since the airport has been shut though, Sushama has been the recipient of unconditional hospitality from her hotel in Leh. On May 7, Rigzin Wangmo Lachic, president, All Ladakh Hotel and Guest House Association and founder of Dolkhar, a boutique hotel, announced that all hotels in Ladakh would accommodate stranded guests for free until flights begin taking off again. 'Nobody must have seen this coming. It is hence our duty to our guests to extend this hospitality,' Lachic says. Ladakh is not the only place in North India which has accommodated travellers. Javed Burza, president of the Pahalgam Restaurant and Hotel Owners Association, said that stranded tourists who were looking to go home after the news of the attack on April 22, were allowed to stay in various hotels and guest houses across Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in Srinagar for the subsequent days. 'There are no tourists here now. The truth is that we feel like scapegoats,' he says. Considering it is peak season in places like Leh, Kashmir and Dharamshala, the economy here, heavily dependent on tourism, has deeply suffered losses. The pinch has been felt in an all-pervasive manner, affecting not just hoteliers, but also shopkeepers, vegetable vendors, markets, business owners and transport businesses. 'Nearly 70% of Ladakh depends on tourism to run the show for the year. It is going to be a difficult time for us, especially for those of us who have taken loans for repair works and construction,' says Nawang Tashi, vice president, Guest House Representative, All Ladakh Hotel and Guest House Association. Lachic says that tourism opened in Ladakh in 1974. Until then, the stray trekker made their way to this underexplored region in the 1920s and 1930s. 'The harsh winters and the lack of road access made it difficult for people to visit. By 2008 and 2009 though, we had an influx of domestic tourists. By this time, low cost operational flights landed in Leh and the release of the film 3 Idiots helped popularise the destination. The economy saw a boom,' she says. When the phenomenon of 'revenge travelling' entered as part of the post-COVID lexicon, Ladakh became a preferred destination for not just trekkers but also for those who wanted to go on self-driving holidays and luxury camps. 'In 2024 though, we saw quite a dip that we were unable to explain. The economy went down by about 30%. We were hoping to make up for losses this year because the bookings in March and April seemed encouraging. We were hoping it would sustain till July but unfortunate circumstances happened,' Lachic says. There are currently around 1,500 stay options ranging from guest houses that charge ₹800 a night to premium properties that charge ₹50,000 for the day. Javed agrees. He states that though horticulture is said to have contributed most to Kashmir's economy, tourism in the last few years has made quite the difference to people's lives. 'There is not much hysteria now but it is going to be a while until we can recover and rebuild. Terror attacks have happened in other parts of the country too like Mumbai. We have to bounce back but it is a time of bad luck for everyone,' he says. Currently, Tsewang Dorjey, president All Ladakh Tour Operators Association, says that they have been arranging tempos to transport tourists to other parts of the country by road. The preferred destination for flights back home is Delhi. Although Innovas usually ply in the region, tempos, which can seat 12 individuals, is currently a more effective form of travel. 'We are taking travellers through the one road that is open, the new Nimmu-Padam-Darcha (NPD) road, also known as the Zanskar Highway. 'Instead of charging ₹5,500 per person as we would, usually, we are charging ₹2,000. This is just to cover basic costs,' he says. Rahul Dhiman, president of the Hotel Owners Association in Dharamshala, and Ankit Gupta, president, Chandigarh Hospitality Association, and joint secretary, Hotel and Restaurant Association of Northern India, says that though flights have been grounded, tourists in these regions have not been affected extensively as road and railway options still exist as travel options. 'Currently, we are hand holding through the mock drills and blackouts but that is about it. If the situation worsens, we will be happy to step in and provide free stay,' Rahul says. Occupancy in Dharamshala is at about 40% in the 400 hotels part of the association. This is pretty standard for the time, he adds. Lachic says that despite the panic, those who are in Ladakh, have continued with their itinerary and made the most of their extended days. 'There is no restriction of movement within the territory,' she says. She adds that waivers from the Government on repayment of loans and electricity bills would aid the community massively and help them continue their work in the long run. Losses otherwise, would not be sustainable, she says. Hospitality in the region now requires more support than ever, Sushma says, adding 'The place is beyond wonderful and more people need to see it. I do not regret making the trip one bit. I just hope to make my flight back home soon though.'
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Business Standard
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Ladakh safe; stakeholders demand removal of 'misleading' travel advisories
Concerned over the cancellations of bookings in the aftermath of a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, the tourism stakeholders in the neighbouring Ladakh on Wednesday assured the foreign and domestic tourists of safe travel in the Union Territory (UT). They also demanded the removal of "misleading" travel advisories. Terrorists opened fire in Pahalgam on Tuesday afternoon, killing 26 people, mostly tourists, in what is the deadliest attack in the valley since the Pulwama strike in 2019. Ladakh observed a shutdown against the terror attack. The UT is also holding a candlelight vigil, jointly being organised by all religious groups representing Buddhist, Muslim and Christian communities besides trade and tourism associations here later in the day to express solidarity with the bereaved families. The "terrorism-free" region of Ladakh was separated from the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state in 2019 following the abrogation of Article 370. The two were made separate UTs. All Ladakh Hotel and Guest House Association president Rigzin Wangmo Lachic said the latest travel advisories issued by the United States and the United Kingdom in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack categorised Ladakh under J-K, creating confusion and concern among the foreign and domestic tourists planning to visit the region. "We have written a letter to Ladakh Chief Secretary Pawan Kotwal, requesting him to take up the matter with the Union Ministry of External Affairs to save the region from the negative impact of the travel advisories at the start of the tourism season," Lachic told PTI. The association strongly condemned the "unfortunate terrorist attack" in J-K and said it supported all efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice. The letter highlighted that the inclusion of Ladakh in such advisories appears to be based on "outdated or misrepresented information" and did not reflect the current reality of the region. "Ladakh remains peaceful, safe and hospitable for all travellers," she said, expressing concern over the repercussions of the Pahalgam incident. "We have already started witnessing multiple cancellations by guests who are mistakenly associating Ladakh with areas of unrest," Lachic said. "We believe that a formal communication from the UT Administration affirming that Ladakh remains a safe and welcoming destination will go a long way in restoring confidence among both foreign and domestic tourists," she said. Both Leh and Kargil observed a strike with all shops and business establishments closed against the terror attack with groups of people staging peaceful protests demanding stern action against the culprits. "Such attacks are a threat to humanity and must be condemned by all, regardless of region and religion," Jamiat-ul-Ulama Isna Asharia Kargil president Sheikh Nazir Mehdi Mohammadi said. He said terrorism, whether in Kashmir or anywhere else, is a menace that primarily targets innocent lives. "It is the responsibility of all peace-loving people to come together and reject such acts of violence," he said, calling for justice for the victims of the deadly attack.
Hindustan Times
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
‘Ladakh remains peaceful, safe and hospitable for all travellers': Why this Himalayan region remains a travel treasure
Concerned over the cancellations of bookings in the aftermath of a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, the tourism stakeholders in the neighbouring Ladakh on Wednesday assured the foreign and domestic tourists of safe travel in the Union Territory (UT). They also demanded the removal of "misleading" travel advisories. Terrorists opened fire in Pahalgam on Tuesday afternoon, killing 26 people, mostly tourists, in what is the deadliest attack in the valley since the Pulwama strike in 2019. Ladakh observed a shutdown against the terror attack. The UT is also holding a candlelight vigil, jointly being organised by all religious groups representing Buddhist, Muslim and Christian communities besides trade and tourism associations here later in the day to express solidarity with the bereaved families. The "terrorism-free" region of Ladakh was separated from the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state in 2019 following the abrogation of Article 370. The two were made separate UTs. All Ladakh Hotel and Guest House Association president Rigzin Wangmo Lachic said the latest travel advisories issued by the United States and the United Kingdom in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack categorised Ladakh under J-K, creating confusion and concern among the foreign and domestic tourists planning to visit the region. "We have written a letter to Ladakh Chief Secretary Pawan Kotwal, requesting him to take up the matter with the Union Ministry of External Affairs to save the region from the negative impact of the travel advisories at the start of the tourism season," Lachic told PTI. The association strongly condemned the "unfortunate terrorist attack" in J-K and said it supported all efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice. The letter highlighted that the inclusion of Ladakh in such advisories appears to be based on "outdated or misrepresented information" and did not reflect the current reality of the region. "Ladakh remains peaceful, safe and hospitable for all travellers," she said, expressing concern over the repercussions of the Pahalgam incident. "We have already started witnessing multiple cancellations by guests who are mistakenly associating Ladakh with areas of unrest," Lachic said. "We believe that a formal communication from the UT Administration affirming that Ladakh remains a safe and welcoming destination will go a long way in restoring confidence among both foreign and domestic tourists," she said. Both Leh and Kargil observed a strike with all shops and business establishments closed against the terror attack with groups of people staging peaceful protests demanding stern action against the culprits. "Such attacks are a threat to humanity and must be condemned by all, regardless of region and religion," Jamiat-ul-Ulama Isna Asharia Kargil president Sheikh Nazir Mehdi Mohammadi said. He said terrorism, whether in Kashmir or anywhere else, is a menace that primarily targets innocent lives. "It is the responsibility of all peace-loving people to come together and reject such acts of violence," he said, calling for justice for the victims of the deadly attack.
