Many attractive tourist circuits in Ladakh region remain out of bound for tourists. Despite strong potential for attracting foreign and local tourists, Ladakh has become a victim of bureaucratic eccentricity and political apathy. Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council is at a loss to understand why the Union Ministry of Tourism is not withdrawing the advisory on visitors to these historical places. It has been reported that the LAHDC and the local army headquarter both have given a green signal for opening the tourist circuits to the visit of foreign and local tourists. Even the Department of Tourism, J&K, too, has written to the Union Ministry of Tourism to lift the ban on visiting these circuits. Yet nothing has come from the Union Ministry of Tourism. Restriction imposed on tourists in not visiting these new circuits is dealing a harsh blow to the economy of the local people who are already impoverished by harsh climatic and difficult life conditions. Tourism could be the main source of their economy, particularly when many tourists would like to come in winter for winter sports. If the Army has cleared these spots and has no objection to the visits of tourists, there remains little for the Union Ministry of Tourism to be hesitant in issuing withdrawing of ban imposed on visiting these places in Ladakh. We hope the demand of LAHDC will be conceded without delay because each day deprives the local people of their livelihood and increases their economic difficulties.
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