Kargil, Dec 06: Executive Councilor for Tourism and Kargil Development Authority (KDA), Kacho Mohammed Feroz chaired a meeting about tourism development in Aryan Valley.

The meeting was attended by Councilor Silmo Constituency/former CEC, LAHDC, Kargil Feroz Ahmed Khan, Assistant Director Tourism, Syeda Aga Taha, Representatives of KDA and civil society members from various villages of Aryan Valley.

In the meeting, the discussion revolved around the issuance of inner-line permits for Indian tourists visiting various villages in the valley. The AD Tourism clarified that there are no restrictions on permits for Indian tourists to the border villages.

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The EC stated that if tourists are denied entry, the issue should be addressed with district administration and Army officials first. Subsequently, the matter will be escalated to the UT Administration for further consideration.

The EC suggested that people especially youth should take maximum benefit of the Revised Homestay Policy-2023 to set up Homestays for tourists.

EC Feroz urged stakeholders to provide a list of Aryan Valley destinations to the Tourism Department within a week. This information will be forwarded for inclusion on the Tourism Department’s website.

Throughout the meeting, stakeholders brought up several concerns, such as the reinstatement of the Aryan Festival at Ganachok, the need to define the geographical boundary of the Aryan Valley, and the proposal to open border villages for tourists.

The EC recommended that local stakeholders initiate tours on a personal basis for the Aryan Valley. This approach is anticipated to motivate larger operators to launch their packages in the Valley.