Ladakh Tourism Faces Downfall Due To Chinese Incursion

Not all publicity is supposed to be good. Local traders feel that the news of Chinese intrusion has hit the tourism of Ladakh very hard This season, Panaroma Hotel,

which serves traditional Ladakhi food, has been witnessing low business.

A senior staff member of the hotel said, “We are administering this hotel for around past 20 years and every year there is good business turnover. The condition is not so good this season. The situation got worse a lot as lot of tourists who had booked the rooms, cancelled their reservation due to the news of Chinese intrusion.”

He added, “Normally we have 100% reservation, but this season it is nearly down to 50%. We are hoping for things to get better.”

A similar story relates the Leh View café, located in the market area.

The owner Muzamil Billai, who came to Ladakh from Kashmir, said, “We have been undertaking business for eight years, but this one is turning out to be the worst season for us. This season, our business is just over 30%. It is because of the Chinese Intrusion.”

Staff members at Thongsal Resort, who are in the business from 20 years, too have reported a fall in international tourists this season.

The local market of this area offer a range of Tibetan goods and food at various cafes and restaurants, but the business is low this season.

Amulet Nepal shop’s owner, Dinesh Raj Singh, offers a range of woollen clothes and T-shirts.

Singh claimed, “For all of us, July to September is a peak season as numerous tourists visit this place. But this season, business is low all over. In addition of Chinese intrusion, the increasing fares of air are also the reason behind the downfall.”

The low is being encountered by even the Refugee Market, where local inhabitants put up their stalls and sell Tibetan jewellery.

Boomlaji, a shopper said, “We just started this business last year, the year was pretty good, but this year the scenario is different. Despite selling the accessories at cheaper rates, we are not making profit. On top of this we are also facing electricity issues. We are trying to move into other business.”

Rigzin Jora, Jammu and Kashmir urban development minister, while inaugurating the International Film Festival on Friday, too had asserted annoyance regarding media coverage of Chinese intrusion as it brought down tourism in Ladakh.