Tourism Boom in Ladakh Spurs New Push for Sustainable Travel, Adventure Regulation

SRINAGAR: With visitor numbers to Ladakh surging in recent years, the Government of India has said it is backing a raft of projects aimed at managing the tourism boom, tightening safety standards for adventure sports, and promoting eco-friendly facilities. Responding to a question in the Lok Sabha on Monday, Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said the sector in the Union Territory was “developing rapidly” and that new schemes, from homestay support to decentralised sewage treatment, were intended to ensure that growth does not come at the cost of Ladakh’s fragile ecology.

The Minister said the Union Territory administration had introduced targeted initiatives, including the Ladakh Homestay Policy 2023, designed to help rural households set up tourist accommodation, and new guidelines for adventure tourism aligned with the National Strategy for Adventure Tourism 2022. Adventure operators must now register every three years, pay a Rs 3,000 fee, and comply with risk-based safety protocols covering 18 categories of activities.

Eco-focused infrastructure is also in the spotlight. The 2024 Sewerage Treatment Plant Incentive Scheme encourages small hotels and guesthouses to install decentralised treatment systems to prevent contamination of water bodies. Meanwhile, the Ladakh Tourist Police Unit, created in 2021, continues to operate at high-altitude spots such as Khardung La and Pangong Tso to assist travellers and conduct rescues.

According to ministry data, Ladakh has also benefited from projects under the Swadesh Darshan and Assistance to Central Agencies schemes, including a Rs 23.16 crore biodiversity park in Leh and an Rs 11.91 crore “Exploring LOC and Hundarman Village” experience in Kargil, both sanctioned in 2023-24.

Across India, the tourism ministry is leaning on central schemes such as Swadesh Darshan 2.0, the Challenge-Based Destination Development sub-scheme, and the PRASHAD programme to upgrade infrastructure and diversify tourism offerings. While Ladakh has emerged as a flagship destination for high-altitude travel, similar pushes are underway in other regions — from coastal heritage circuits in Tamil Nadu to riverfront development projects in Varanasi — signalling a broader trend towards thematic tourism development backed by central funding.