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Leh, October 12: Ladakh recorded a 65.38% increase in tourist arrivals during the first nine months of 2026, with 4,60,667 visitors travelling to the Union Territory between January and September, compared with 2,78,599 during the corresponding period in 2025.
The tourist footfall during the first nine months of this year has already exceeded the 3,35,872 visitors recorded during the whole of 2025, with three months still remaining in 2026.
Tourist arrivals also registered a sharp increase in September. The Union Territory received 55,582 visitors during the month, compared with 34,610 in September 2025, marking a year-on-year growth of 60.60%.
Domestic tourists accounted for most of the increase. Their number rose from 3,03,838 during January-September 2025 to 4,20,927 during the same period this year, a growth of 38.54%. Foreign tourist arrivals increased from 32,034 to 39,740, registering a 24.06% rise.
In September, domestic tourist arrivals increased from 29,888 last year to 49,188, while foreign arrivals rose from 4,722 to 6,394.
Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena attributed the increase to improved connectivity and the Administration’s efforts to expand Ladakh’s tourism calendar through festivals, sporting events and new initiatives.
Events such as the Ladakh Festival, Ladakh Marathon, Ladakh Bike Week and Ladakh Zanskar Festival have helped broaden the region’s tourism appeal. New initiatives, including high-altitude Lilium flower cultivation and a high-altitude wildlife safari, are also aimed at diversifying the tourism experience.
Mr. Saxena stressed the need to promote festivals and events during the shoulder and off-season periods to reduce dependence on the traditional summer tourism window.
“Our aim is to encourage travel during shoulder and off-season periods, diversifying the tourism economy and creating more sustained livelihood opportunities for local residents,” the L-G said.
The Administration said its tourism strategy was focused not merely on increasing visitor numbers but also on ensuring that the growth translates into sustained economic opportunities for local communities.
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