Leh, Sept 21, 2024: The Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Brigadier (Dr) BD Mishra (Retd) attended the inaugural function of the Ladakh Festival 2024 at Polo Ground. Ladakh Festival is a cultural extravaganza that showcases the region’s traditional music, dance, arts and crafts. 

Expressing his happiness for participating in the Ladakh Festival in which a large number of tourists are also taking part, the HLG stated that the Festival is a grand occasion meant to preserve Ladakh’s rich culture, traditions and heritage, good practices and the fragile environment of the region. He emphasised the importance of leaving lasting good memories for tourists and the need for the people engaged in the tourism industry, particularly the youth, to take inspiration to preserve Ladakh’s rich culture and heritage and take it forward to better it.

Highlighting the importance of the tourism industry in Ladakh, the HLG emphasised the need to improve homestays, trekking routes, adventure sports and other tourist activities to ensure a better experience for both domestic and foreign tourists. Stating that everybody has a role to play in this regard, he commended Chairman/CEC of LAHDC Leh, the Executive Councillors/Councillors and district officials for working in tandem with each other to promote tourism in Ladakh.

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Stating that Ladakh is a unique tourist destination where the footfall of tourists is almost double the number of the local population, the HLG highlighted the need to make Ladakh one of the best tourist destinations across the world and ensure that tourists return to their homes with happy memories of Ladakh. He highlighted the roles in making Ladakh a lucrative tourist destination, viz. ensuring cleanliness, safety and security along with accessible food, transport and housing facilities for tourists. He also emphasised the importance of tackling the dog menace issue in Ladakh and asked the officials/stakeholders engaged in the tourism industry to work on these responsibilities/aspects with probity, transparency, dedication and commitment.

Sharing his message with the entrepreneurs and start-ups, the HLG asked them to work hard to help Ladakh become the best tourist destination so that they avail its benefits. He also complimented the cultural troupes, artists, officials and stakeholders engaged in making the Ladakh Festival 2024 a success and hoped to see the next year’s Ladakh Festival being celebrated with more participation of people with better facilities for tourists.

Earlier, Secretary, Tourism and Culture, Shri Vikram Singh Malik, IAS, welcomed the guests.

Artists and cultural troupes performed Shondol and Chhabskyan dance during the inaugural function.

Chairman/CEC, LAHDC Leh, Advocate Tashi Gyalson; Acting Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, Justice Tashi Rabstan; Deputy Chairman, LAHDC Leh, Shri Tsering Angchuk; Executive Councillors- Shri Tashi Namgyal Yakee, Shri Gulam Mehdi & Shri Stanzin Chosphel; Advisor to the HLG, Dr Pawan Kotwal, IAS; Principal Secretary, Shri Sanjeev Khirwar, IAS; ADGP Ladakh, Dr SD Singh Jamwal, IPS; Secretary, Tourism and Culture, Shri Vikram Singh Malik, IAS; Deputy Commissioner, Leh, Shri Santosh Sukhadeve, IAS; Head of Departments/Directors; district officials; artists and cultural troupes along with a large number of spectators were present during the inaugural function.