Leh, Mar 26: In a decisive administrative intervention aimed at restructuring tourism operations in the Union Territory, Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra has directed the Tourism Department to initiate the registration of all existing hotels and guesthouses in Nubra Valley, addressing a long-pending gap that had constrained the sector’s orderly development.
The directive follows sustained concerns over procedural delays and the absence of a comprehensive registration framework, which officials acknowledge had created gaps in monitoring, service standards, and regulatory oversight in one of Ladakh’s most visited destinations.
According to an official communication issued by the Office of the Assistant Director, Tourism, Leh, all tourism-related establishments operating in Nubra have been instructed to secure registration under the prevailing rules without delay. Authorities have emphasised urgency, calling for immediate compliance to bring uniformity and accountability across the sector.
Chief Secretary Kundra, while reiterating the administration’s intent, stated that clear directions have been issued to eliminate bottlenecks that had held back the industry’s expansion in the region. He described the registration exercise as essential for formalising operations, ensuring adherence to safety and environmental norms, and enabling structured growth.
The move is seen as a direct outcome of a high-level stakeholder consultation held on March 11 at the LAHDC Conference Hall in Leh, where tourism associations, hoteliers, and local representatives highlighted persistent delays in registration processes, along with challenges related to clearances, infrastructure access, and digital platform inefficiencies.
Officials indicated that the lack of a streamlined system had allowed several establishments to operate outside formal oversight, limiting investment potential and affecting the visitor experience. The new directive aims to integrate these units into a defined regulatory framework under the applicable trade laws extended to the Union Territory.
Situated around 150 kilometres from Leh across Khardung La, Nubra Valley remains a central component of Ladakh’s tourism circuit. Known for its sand dunes, double-humped camels, and historic sites such as Diskit Monastery, the region attracts a steady flow of domestic and international visitors. However, the growth of unregistered hospitality units has long posed challenges for regulation and sustainable planning.
With the summer tourist season approaching, the administration’s push is expected to have immediate implications. Bringing all hospitality units under a single system is likely to improve compliance, enhance service quality, and facilitate better environmental monitoring in the ecologically sensitive trans-Himalayan region.
Officials also view the exercise as a step towards balancing tourism expansion with sustainability concerns, including waste management, water use, and ecological preservation. Formal registration is expected to enable enforcement of environmental safeguards and open avenues for government support, including incentives for eco-friendly infrastructure.
Local stakeholders have welcomed the decision, noting that delays in registration had hindered access to institutional finance, insurance, and government schemes—particularly for small, family-run establishments that form the backbone of Nubra’s tourism economy.
Welcoming the government’s decision to resolve the long-pending issue of registration for tourism businesses in Nubra, All Ladakh Hotel and Guest House Association (ALHAGHA) President Rigzin Wangmo Lachic on Wednesday said the move brings relief to stakeholders and opens the way for a more structured tourism sector in the region.
She said the administration has cleared the demand for formal registration of tourism units operating in Nubra Valley, ending a prolonged period of uncertainty that had affected local operators. The decision enables businesses to be brought under an official framework, ensuring recognition and access to institutional support.
Lachic urged all members running tourism establishments in Nubra to complete their registration with the Tourism Department at the earliest, emphasising that timely compliance would allow operators to benefit from future policy measures and government-backed initiatives aimed at strengthening the sector.
The absence of a formal registration mechanism had remained a concern for the tourism community, with stakeholders pointing to challenges in securing recognition and participating in official programmes. With the process now in place, industry members expect improved coordination with authorities and enhanced service standards.
The association also acknowledged the role of the Union Territory administration, including the Chief Secretary and the Tourism Department, in addressing the issue, describing the response as reflective of engagement with concerns raised by the tourism industry.
Nubra Valley remains one of Ladakh’s prominent tourist destinations, attracting a growing number of visitors each year. Stakeholders believe that bringing businesses into a formal system will support better regulation and contribute to the long-term development of tourism in the region.
With registrations now open, the sector is expected to move towards greater organisation and alignment with administrative policies, marking a new phase for tourism operations in Nubra.
Meanwhile, former CEC Leh and senior BJP leader Adv. Tashi Gyalson has welcomed the administration’s decision to resolve the long-pending issue of registration for hotels, guesthouses, and travel agencies in Nubra—a move expected to ease persistent concerns within the region’s tourism sector.
The development follows directions issued by Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra, IAS, to the Tourism Department to commence the registration process, bringing an end to administrative delays that had affected tourism-related enterprises in the valley for a considerable period.
Gyalson described the intervention as timely, noting that the absence of a formal registration mechanism had been a major constraint for stakeholders operating in Nubra, one of Ladakh’s most visited destinations. He said the decision would provide regulatory clarity and support the orderly expansion of tourism activities in the region.
He also extended his congratulations to the people of Nubra, particularly those engaged in tourism, expressing hope that the move would restore confidence among local entrepreneurs and service providers.
Highlighting the role of public representatives, Gyalson credited former Deputy Chairman Tsering Angchuk, Executive Councillor Ghulam Mehdi, former councillors Tsering Sandup, Rigzen Lundup, Kunzang Lotus, and LP Namgail, Chairman of the Nubra Coordination Committee, for sustained follow-up with the Lieutenant Governor and senior officials.
According to the statement, their continued efforts were instrumental in drawing attention to the issue and facilitating administrative action.
With the registration process set to begin, officials expect improved oversight of tourism establishments and better service standards, while also encouraging new investments in the sector. Nubra, known for its landscape and seasonal tourist inflow, is likely to benefit from a more structured and regulated tourism framework.
The administration’s broader strategy continues to focus on coordinated policy execution across sectors, with parallel discussions on infrastructure development, connectivity, and community-based tourism initiatives. The current directive signals a shift towards implementation, as Ladakh seeks to position itself as a regulated and sustainable high-altitude destination.
