Lok Sabha Question No. 2692 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-09
Subject: Relief Measures for Tourism Industry in Ladakh
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Shri Mohmad Haneefa

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2692 ANSWERED ON 09.03.2026

## RELIEF MEASURES FOR TOURISM INDUSTRY IN LADAKH

## 2692. SHRI MOHMAD HANEEFA:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware that the tourism-stakeholders in Leh  and  Kargil  in  the  Union  Territory  of  Ladakh  are  facing  acute financial distress due to a catastrophic 60 percent decline in visitor numbers in 2025, following operation sindoor and the tragic incident of 24 th  September, international travel advisories following security incidents and severe monsoon-related disruptions that damaged key access routes, which interrupted the tourist season and threatened livelihoods of thousands dependent on tourism sector;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  of  the  specific  relief  measures  sanctioned  or  is proposing  the  Government  such  as  interest-free  moratorium,  loan restructuring,  direct  grants  or  subsidies  to  revive  the  tourism industry in Ladakh; and
- (c) whether any special package or revival plan is being formulated to support 70 per cent of Ladakh's population dependent on tourism and ensure the region's recovery during the next season?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF TOURISM          (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

- (a) to (c): As  per  the  data  available  with  the  Ministry  of  Tourism,  the tourist arrival for Leh and Kargil under the Union Territory of Ladakh is as under:

| Domestic Tourist Visitors   | 2024     | 2025     |   % Change |
|-----------------------------|----------|----------|------------|
| Leh                         | 2,92,836 | 2,12,799 |      -27.3 |
| Kargil                      | 3,20,432 | 93,389   |      -70.9 |

| Foreign Tourist Visitors   | 2024   | 2025   |   % Change |
|----------------------------|--------|--------|------------|
| Leh                        | 34,915 | 29,049 |     -16.8  |
| Kargil                     | 4,215  | 3,072  |     -27.12 |

As  informed  by  the  UT  Administration  of  Ladakh,  the  Finance Department,  UT  Administration  of  Ladakh  issued  Notification  dated 19.09.2025  for  the  purpose  of  enabling  the  Bank  in  Union  Territory  of Ladakh to avail benefits under Chapter VII of the Reserve Bank of India (Relief  Measures  by  Banks  in  Areas  Affected  by  Natural  Calamities) Directions,  2018.  Consequent  to  the  above  notification,  a  committee comprising three major banks operating in Ladakh, namely State Bank of India,  Punjab  National  Bank  and  J&K  Bank  finalized  a  rehabilitation plan/package  to  borrowers  affected  by  disturbances  after  Pahalgam incident, including those from the tourism sector, and directing all banks for  necessary  action.  The  Rehab-plan  involves  restructuring  of  the borrower accounts which may include inter alia:

- (i) Extension in the repayment period in the existing term loan with moratorium Period.
- (ii) Extension in the repayment period in the existing term loan without moratorium Period.
- (iii) Conversion  of  interest  accrued  or  to  be  accrued  during  the moratorium  period  in  existing  working  capital  into  Funded Interest Term Loan (FITL).
- (iv) Conversion  of  interest  accrued  or  to  be  accrued  during  the moratorium period in term loan into FITL.
- (v) Sanctioning of additional credit facility in the shape of working capital  term  loan  (WCTL)  which  shall  not  exceed  15%  of existing fund based working capital limit.

The Government also approved the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram  Abhiyan  for  improving  the  socio-economic  condition  of  tribal communities, and development of 1000 homestays is a part of the scheme. The States and Union Territories, including Ladakh, can avail assistance of a maximum of Rs.5 Crore for implementing 5-10 homestays per village in  a  village  cluster  of  5-6  villages,  subject  to  eligibility  as  per  the Guidelines issued on 01.07.2025.

Additionally, the Government of India also announced collateral free institutional credit of Mudra  Loans  for  Homestays  in the  Budget Announcement  for  2025-26  to  assist  and  encourage  setting  up  of homestays across the country.

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