The recent standoff between India-China in Daulat Baig Oldi over the issue of incursion has taken its toll in the form of cancellation of 60-70 air-bookings to Ladakh by the tourists, both domestic as well as foreign.
S Angchok, a local businessman associated with hotel industry in Leh, while talking to news gathering agency JKNI, stated that the standoff badly impacted tourist influx to the cold desert, which of late has emerged as the most preferred destination among foreign tourists.
The point, where incursion had taken place, is 300 kms away from Leh. But media, both electronic and print, covered this standoff, to our great disadvantage, in such a manner as if entire Ladakh was affected. As a consequence, we’ve lost a better chunk of our tourist season.”
Hoteliers and other persons associated with the tourism industry in Ladakh feel that it would take time to bring back tourists, mainly foreign tourists, to the cold desert after this set back to tourism sector.