*Govt lists relief measures
Govind Sharma
JAMMU, Mar 9: Tourist arrivals in Ladakh witnessed a sharp decline in 2025, particularly in Kargil, where domestic tourism dropped by more than 70 per cent.
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Responding to a question raised by Ladakh MP Mohmad Haneefa in the lok Sabha, Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said the Ministry was aware of the downturn in the tourism sector in the Union Territory and outlined measures being taken to support affected stakeholders.
According to official data placed before the House, domestic tourist arrivals in Leh fell from 2,92,836 in 2024 to 2,12,799 in 2025, registering a 27.3 per cent decline. The fall was much steeper in Kargil, where tourist numbers dropped from 3,20,432 in 2024 to 93,389 in 2025, marking a 70.9 per cent decrease.
Foreign tourist arrivals also declined during the same period. Leh recorded a fall from 34,915 visitors in 2024 to 29,049 in 2025, while Kargil saw foreign arrivals drop from 4,215 to 3,072, reflecting declines of 16.8 per cent and 27.12 per cent respectively.
The Government said the downturn followed multiple factors including security-related incidents that triggered international travel advisories and severe monsoon disruptions that damaged key access routes to the region, affecting the tourism season and the livelihoods of those dependent on the sector.
The Minister informed that the Ladakh Administration has already taken steps to provide relief to affected sectors. In September 2025, the Finance Department issued a notification enabling banks in Ladakh to extend assistance under the Reserve Bank of India’s relief framework for areas affected by natural calamities.
A committee comprising State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank and J&K Bank subsequently finalized a rehabilitation package for borrowers affected by the disturbances, including those associated with the tourism sector. The package includes loan restructuring, extension of repayment periods, moratorium options, conversion of accrued interest into Funded Interest Term Loans (FITL), and provision of additional working capital credit facilities.
The Government also highlighted initiatives aimed at strengthening tourism-linked livelihoods. Under the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan, states and union territories, including Ladakh, can receive assistance of up to Rs 5 crore for developing homestays in village clusters to promote rural tourism.
In addition, the Union Budget for 2025–26 has announced collateral-free institutional credit under the Mudra loan scheme to encourage the establishment of homestays across the country, which is expected to benefit tourism-driven regions like Ladakh.
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