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| Ladakh is in for bumper tourist traffic | | |
As compared to two other regions of Kashmir and Jammu the province of Ladakh has been number one place of attraction for foreign tourists.Even though the region is called the cold desert its Buddhist stupas,monasteries,Leh Palace,peaks,the Buddhist culture,people and their life style have attracted a large number of tourists.Bigger groups of tourists started visiting the Ladakh province right from 1974 when the area was thrown open to the foreign tourists.Prior to 1974 the entire belt had been a forbidden land for the foreigners because of its strategic importance as it borders Pakistan and China.When tourist traffic to the Kashmir valley was hit hard as a result of militancy related violence between 1989 and 1996 the flow of foreign tourists,especially the trekkers,to Ladakh and Kargil belts had remained uninterrupted.Over the years it has been seen that the number of trekkers and expeditions to the peaks in the areas from the foreign countries has
been more than those keen to visit the monasteries and palaces.The annual tourist traffic to Ladakh between 2002 and 2009 has ranged between 45000 and 55000.The Tourism Department experts have found that Ladakh has been attracting quality tourists as the majority of foreigners spend more on their trekking and holidays.No doubt the number of peaks and the routes for trekking had been restricted still a large number of foreigners made it to the land of the Lamas.Now that the Defence Ministry has accepted the state Government's proposal that 100 peaks be thrown open for tourists in Ladakh one expects a bumper tourist traffic to the land of mist and mystery.It depends on the union Home Ministry because its nod is mandatory for keeping 100 more peaks open for expeditioners.Definitely these peaks and the one already scaled by trekkers in the past would lure large number of tourists who fall in the category of adventure lovers.Experts are of the opinion that
since 1974,when Ladakh was thrown open to foreigners,the economy of the land of Lamas has witnessed major transformation.People have earned a lot of money allowing them to open now hotels,restaurants and guest houses.Over the years people in Leh and adjoining areas have kept some rooms in their houses vacant after converting them into guest rooms.This too helped the people to augument their income.Between 1975 and 1999 foreigners,visiting Ladakh,were attracted by the antiques that decorated various monasteries and they had no reservartions in paying heavily while purchasing these antiques.This also gave a boost to the economy in Leh.Experts believe that bumper tourist traffic to Ladakh,directly or indirectly,gives a push to the economy in the Kashmir valley.It is so because all the tourists to Ladakh do not travel by air.Majority prefer visiting the frontier region by road.And for that they have to reach Srinagar first and spend a couple of days on
sight seeing and then make it to Kargil and Leh.Now that the 100 peaks are certain to be thrown open for tourists it is upto the state Government to improve the facilities for the tourists.The state Government needs to upgarde the transport system between Srinagar and Leh and hotels and restaurants.In addition to this the infrastructure required by the expeditions during their climb to various peaks has to be provided by the state authorities.Once all these facilities were updated and upgraded it could give a new boost to the tourist traffic to Ladakh.Bumper tourist traffic to Ladakh means better means of earnings for the people and the Government when the tourist traffic has been found to be the backbone of the state's economy.Besides this the state Government needs to develop other spots of tourist attraction in the Jammu region.
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