Lieutenant Governor of UT of Ladakh R K Mathur convened Ist Mini Tourism Conclave of Ladakh. The meet was organized at the initiative of Commissioner/ Secretary Tourism Rigzin Samphel in collaboration with All Ladakh Tour Operators Association and Hotel Association from both Leh and Kargil districts. LG was accompanied by Advisor Umang Narula, Commissioner/Secretary Tourism Rigzin Samphel, Director Tourism Ladakh Mohd Mumtaz Ali, presidents and members of the travel and trade industry of both Leh and Kargil districts. LG stressed on the need for both the Government as well as the stakeholders to work in tandem to work-out a road map keeping the fragility, sensitivity, and authenticity of ecology, environment, and tradition, and future of Ladakh in mind. With the new set-up of administration and flow of money, the Government should develop tourism products, market it, ensure skill development and come forward to facilitate the tourism sector by way of granting permits and other required formalities, he said, adding “stakeholders on the other hand need to develop new avenues pertaining to spiritual, herbal-medicine, silk-route, ice-skating, and other forms of tourism to the world to explore and make a paradigm shift of Ladakh from summer destination to all-season tourist destination”. “Advisor to LG Umang Narula talked about the immense potential of tourism in Ladakh and stressed on the need to push brand ‘Ladakh’. With the allocation of sizeable budget Government intends to promote this sector in every possible way, he added. Rigzin Samphel suggested that the stakeholders must advertise the specific season specialty of autumn, winter and spring seasons of Ladakh. Director Tourism Mohd Mumtaz Ali briefed about the current tourism sector scenario of Ladakh, plans for its promotion and issues/challenges. Similarly, representatives of travel and trade industry of both Leh and Kargil districts spoke about their vision of the tourism sector of the areas, issues, and suggestions through powerpoint presentations.
