Tourism managed by local stakeholders is ideal for eco-sensitive destinations like Ladakh: Lobzang Tsendol – ET TravelWorld

It’s been three decades since Lobzang Tsendol started her professional career with tourism in Leh-Ladakh, initially as a tour guide, and then as a tour operator. In that respect, she was the first woman tourism entrepreneur from the region and her inspirational journey in an otherwise male dominated industry has brought out a transformation of sorts with a lot of women coming forward and participating in the burgeoning tourism business in different capacities in the following decades.

Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council in its recent Rpal Ngam Duston ceremony recognised Tsendol for her contributions, dedication and creativity in promoting the region and its unique life and culture and breathtaking landscape and hospitality to the world.

Although she didn’t grow up in Ladakh, she always maintained a deep connection with the region’s landscape and a strong sense of community that defines the region, she says. The fascination for the beautiful landscape and the life and culture of the region brought her close to tourism as she felt it is the right place for her to develop a deep understanding about these aspects and then promote it to the visitors and the world outside.

“Tourism has always played a significant role in Ladakh’s economy, yet we noticed that very few women were involved in this sector. This realization motivated me to enter the tourism business, believing I could bring a transformative change in how women approach opportunities here.

Despite facing challenges in a male-dominated industry, where people doubted our capabilities, my vision and passion kept me motivated. I believed I could overcome these hurdles, and with hard work, I broke stereotypes,” she said, sharing her journey.

There was initial resistance from her family and the society itself against going out with foreign tourists as tour escort, but she remained determined and made her mark slowly and steadily. “I started in 1994 as a guide and then established the company, Royal Explorers, a year later.

I wanted to offer something different—something that wasn’t just about creating itineraries but also about providing a deeper understanding of Ladakhi culture. I organized tours that allowed tourists to interact with local communities and experience the true essence of Ladakh,” she said.

From a tour operator, Tsendol expanded her business to hotels and homestays as well. Her success has inspired many women to join the industry and find their own niche as tour guides, cooks, homestay operators, etc. “It’s quite fulfilling to see the change in mindset of women folk in the region. This has given these women an opportunity to earn a livelihood and gain confidence in their capabilities,” she observed.

“We don’t follow the run-of-the-mill itineraries. We design customised itineraries for our guests. We take them beyond Nubra, Pangong and Tso Moriri to remote villages and make them understand the life and culture of the villagers. We organise treks of 3 days to a month duration,” she said, explaining the difference in approach in showcasing the true Ladakh to visitors.

The global health crisis and the improvements in connectivity both by road and by air to Ladakh has really changed the tourism dynamics of the destination. A destination for highly nature-loving and culture-seeking international travellers for a very long time, Ladakh had to face an onslaught of domestic travellers who descended by all means – bikes, luxury SUVs, flights, etc. looking for totally different indulgences.

This has put a whole lot of pressure on the ecosystem and efforts by the local administration to bring certain guidelines to check pollution, waste management, etc. are also falling apart at times. Tourists often disrespect things that the locals treat as sacred – they walk on the prayer flags and litter around stupas and monasteries, she says.

“Ladakh is indeed facing challenges with over-tourism, especially after the opening of tunnel roads and improved connectivity. The fragile ecosystem here is under significant pressure due to the increased number of visitors. “The local bodies, particularly our council, are doing a commendable job in promoting Ladakh by implementing various initiatives focused on sustainable development.

They are taking steps to reduce the use of items that negatively impact the fragile ecosystem of Ladakh. For instance, they are imposing restrictions on tourists, especially regarding self-driven vehicles, which can pollute rivers and damage the lakes. However, with the sheer number of visitors, it’s challenging to manage everything effectively,” she rued. In this context, she felt that it is critical that tourism business in these eco-fragile destinations are managed and operated by the locals.

Royal Explorers manages a couple of accommodation units as well in Ladakh. One is a Swiss tented accommodation – Royal Deluxe Camp – in Nubra and another one a 20-room hotel in Leh – Hotel Ladakh Heights. “We opened Hotel Ladakh Heights in August this year. It’s not yet fully operational. It’s a Super Deluxe category hotel with a local architecture,” she said.

“Outsiders won’t understand the values and sentiments of the local people. Therefore, there are restrictions on big brands in establishing their branches in Ladakh,” she said, supporting such restrictions. Big hospitality players always nursed ambitions to launch their business in Leh-Ladakh, which was resisted by the local stakeholder associations from time to time, she informed.

While tourism can be a major economic driver for the region, she feels that too much of it will have disastrous implications on the highly fragile eco-system of Ladakh. “We are not after too much money and prosperity. Our environment, values and cultural icons like monasteries are quite sacred for us and cannot be allowed to be trampled upon for tourism,” she says.

Local operators pay a lot of attention and care for these identities and their conservation. “Sustainability is at the core of what we do, and we strive to minimize our environmental impact by promoting eco-friendly practices and encouraging responsible tourism. We work closely with local communities to ensure that tourism does not disrupt their traditional way of life. We’ve also been actively involved in cleaning trekking routes and promoting the use of eco-friendly products to reduce waste.”