The growing concern among locals engaged in the tourism sector stems from a record fall of 3.30 lakh tourists visiting the region between January and July 2026, already touching the 2025 figures of 3.35 lakh, and the Ladakh administration plans to expand tourism infrastructure in the region. File
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Fearing a fallout on family-run guest houses and homestays of locals if outside players enter into Ladakh tourism sector, there is a growing demand to make the Ladakh Resident Certificate (LRC) a mandatory document for tourism business registration in the ecologically-sensitive region.“The government has committed to providing constitutional and legislative safeguards, including the long-awaited Sixth Schedule/Article 371-related protections for Ladakh. Until these safeguards are concretely implemented, the LRC is an essential and practical interim mechanism to protect local participation in the tourism sector,” Rigzin Wangmo Lachic, president of the All Ladakh Hotel and Guest House Association (ALHAGHA), told The Hindu.The growing concern among locals engaged in the tourism sector stems from record footfall of 3.30 lakh tourists visiting the region between January and July 2026, already touching the 2025 figures of 3.35 lakh, and the Ladakh administration plans to expand tourism infrastructure in the region.The executive body meeting of the tourism players association in Leh on Saturday (August 8, 2026) was also attended by representatives from Nubra, Changthang, Sham, Zanskar and other parts of Ladakh.“All tourism players reflected the growing recognition that this is not an issue concerning one town, one district or one category of business. If there are no safeguards for local participation, opportunities for the next generation could gradually diminish as larger and better-capitalised external businesses enter the sector,” said Ms. Lachic.Tourism is the mainstay of Ladakh’s economy, with one estimate suggesting that it contributes around 50% to the region’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). According to official figures, Leh district, one of the seven districts in the region, has 317 hotels, 691 guest houses, 1,055 homestays and 105 camps.However, tourism players warn against uncontrolled tourist footfall. “Ladakh is not an ordinary tourism destination. It is a high-altitude, water-scarce and ecologically fragile region with a very limited carrying capacity. Those who live here, understand this fragile environment and will continue to live with the consequences of development must have a meaningful stake in determining how tourism grows,” said Ms. Lachic.The hoteliers’ body has asked the government “to work on a framework that recognises the unique circumstances of Ladakh and ensures that tourism remains locally rooted, environmentally responsible and economically inclusive”. Published - August 09, 2026 07:26 pm IST
