Hotel occupancy falls to just 15%; foreign tourists back out of plans
Arteev Sharma
Jammu: Ladakh’s tourism sector, considered as economic lifeline of the arid region, has been brought to its knees by the recent India-Pakistan hostilities triggered by the Pahalgam killings, causing a sharp decline in arrival of tourists, particularly international travelers who are now steering clear of the “land of high passes”.
According to official sources, tourist footfall has sharply come down following the escalation in cross-border tensions. “The Pahalgam killings and the subsequent incidents have had a ripple effect in Ladakh, where the tourism industry is now bearing the brunt. Flight operations in the region have been disrupted, and the prevailing uncertainty has made both domestic and international tourists hesitant to visit the region,” a senior official from the Tourism Department told The News Now.
The official said, “Tourist arrivals in Ladakh have declined by over 70 percent—a worrying figure, especially during what is traditionally considered the peak of the travel season. Our tourist season begins in April and continues through the summer, with the best time to visit being from April to mid-May. Local stakeholders, particularly hotel owners and taxi operators, are worried about uncertain tourism season this year as it is going to hit hard their primary resource of livelihood”.
Rigzin Wangmo Lachic, president of All Ladakh Hotel and Guest House Association (ALHGHA) said, “Occupancy rate has drastically come down to nearly 10-15 percent. All bookings for the current month have been canceled, and foreign travelers are now backing out of plans for the coming month as well,” she said.
Lachic said there were nearly 2,000 hotels and guest houses in Leh, all of which are facing the brunt of the crisis. “A majority of hoteliers have invested heavily by availing loans to build these facilities. The current situation is putting immense financial pressure on hotel and guest house owners,” she said, adding, “While we are hopeful the situation may improve next month, for now, the tourism sector is not picking up.”
The hotelier said the flight operations in the region have yet to fully resume, which remains one of the major reasons behind the continued decline in tourist footfall in Ladakh.
Pertinently, the ALHAGHA had recently announced that travellers stuck in the region due to flight cancellations would not be charged for extended hotel stays. “Guests whose outbound flights have been cancelled due to the current situation will be provided complimentary stays at the same hotels where they have been staying in Ladakh,” it had said.
Similarly, All Ladakh Tour Operators Association (ALTOA) worked with taxis and tempo operators to subsidise costs for tourists who wanted to leave Ladakh by road.
In 2024, nearly four lakh tourists visited the region, which is famous for its breathtaking landscapes and unique cultural experiences. However, this marked a significant decline compared to the previous year. According to data from the Tourism Department of Ladakh, tourist arrivals dropped from 5,25,374 in 2023 to 3,75,393 in 2024 (as of December 20, 2024), reflecting a decrease of 1,49,981 visitors.
