Ladakh tourism surpasses 2025 annual totals in nine months

The Union Territory of Ladakh has recorded over 460,000 tourist arrivals between January 1 and September 30, 2026. This figure surpasses the total annual footfall of 2025 by more than 37 percent.

Comparing the first nine months of 2026 to the same period in 2025, the region saw a 65.38 percent increase in visitors. Domestic tourism grew by approximately 38.54 percent, while foreign tourist arrivals rose by 24.06 percent.

Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena attributed this growth to improved connectivity and the promotion of various events, including Ladakh Bike Week, the Ladakh Marathon, and local festivals. Other contributing factors include the introduction of India’s first high-altitude wildlife safari and the development of the world’s highest-altitude Lilium flower fields.