Frequent face-offs between India and China along fluid border in Ladakh and repeated incursions of uninhabited upper reaches has affected the region's tourism industry, which is the mainstay of the economy.

According to the Leh tourism department's figures, there is an overall dip of 30% in tourist footfall this year in the wake of reports of Chinese incursions since April this year. Only 24,680 tourists visited Ladakh region from April to August this year compared to 31,939 for the same period last year. 

Ladakh district of Kashmir region hit headlines in April this year when the Chinese army erected tents in Daulat Beg Oldi, around 20 km inside the Indian territory. The 21-day face-off was resolved mutually after the Chinese army agreed to withdraw from the territory in lieu to removal of an Indian security picket at a separate location as per a HT report.

However, security agencies downplay chances of any combat operations in the region and describe the reports of incursions and war-like scenario as "exaggeration by the media". "Borders are fluid here so both the armies patrol the areas along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with no borders in mind. The reported incursions never impacted Border Personnel Meetings (BPMs) between the two armies. The frequency remained the same,"said army sources.

"We do not believe incursions are happening. Two, the face-offs take place far away places in uninhabited fluid areas. The media exaggerated it and has impacted the tourism badly,"said Rigzin Jora, a senior Congress leader and state urban local bodies minister, who hails from Leh.

Most hoteliers, who are running low on occupancy, also blame the reportage for plummeting tourism industry. "Last year, I had advance bookings for August. But this year a very few rooms are occupied,"said manager of the Lingzi Hotel.

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