Cooperation in Making New Tourism Policy For Ladakh

   Union Minister of State for Culture and Tourism Prahlad Singh Patel said that the Ministry of Tourism will extend full cooperation to the local administration in formulating a new tourism policy for Ladakh. 

 

   He said that if needed, the officials of the Ministry would travel to Ladakh every month to provide support and assistance in this matter. In Leh Yatra,

   Union Minister of State for Culture and Tourism (Independent Charge) Prahlad Singh Patel held a meeting with all local stakeholders in Ladakh. Smt. Meenakshi Sharma, DG, Tourism Department; Ms. Rupinder Brar, ADG, Tourism Department, Principal Secretary, J&K Tourism Naveen Kumar Chaudhary and senior officials of Ministry of Tourism and officials of local bodies were present. 

   Shri Patel said that at present only 14 monuments of Ladakh region are under the protection of ASI. The Ministry intends to double or triple this number. There are many monuments in Ladakh and Kargil region which should be protected by ASI. Local stakeholders appreciated Mr. Patel's visit to Ladakh at the meeting. 

   The local people demanded better connectivity, better infrastructure, tax exemption, etc. to give a boost to the tourism industry. Mr. Patel assured him of the full cooperation of the Ministry and the Government of India. In the meeting, Joint Director General of Tourism Ministry Vikas Rusti gave a presentation on the work plan to promote tourism in Ladakh region. It showed that Ladakh has the potential to attract tourists from all over the world. Ladakh has been given a special place in the Atulya Bharat Abhiyan.