Various delegations, including companies in the tourist sector, who were struggling with a steep decline in the arrival of tourists after the Pahalgam terror attack, met Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman here. The delegations advocated special relief for tourism and allied areas in the Union Territory of Ladakh. An official gave this information on Sunday.
The delegations also demanded restoring budget allocation for FY 2025-26 and requested that the budget estimate and revised estimate be finalized based on expenditure till December instead of September-October, so that the actual expenditure capacity of the region can be shown.
The official said Sitharaman reached Leh on a four -day visit on Saturday. Sitharaman joined the ‘Prakash and Sound Exhibition’ at Leh Palace and visited Shanti Stupa. In addition, he met various delegations led by Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Chairman and Chief Executive Councilor Tashi Gyalsan.
He said that among the delegations, All Ladakh Travel and Trade Alliance, All Ladakh Hotel and Guest House Association (ALGHA), All Ladakh Tour Operators Association (ALTOA), All Ladakh Transport Association (ALTA), Merchant Association, Merchant Association, Biker Association, Baiker Union and Tourism and Taxi Union and Tourism Was involved.
A delegation of various tourism and business areas of Ladakh underlined the increasing concern over the remarkable decline in the number of tourists after the terrorist attack in Pahalgam on 22 April. 26 people were killed in the attack. The Finance Minister assured that these issues would be discussed properly.