This Article is From Apr 26, 2013

India-China stand-off may affect tourism in Ladakh, feel locals

Leh: Far away from the remote corner of Ladakh, where a Chinese platoon has set up camp 10 km inside Indian territory, it is life as usual in Leh.

Hoteliers are preparing for the tourist season with summer vacations round the corner and are worried that media attention on the border tension might impact business.

Nisar Ahmed, who owns a hotel in Leh, says he would not even have known about the Chinese incursion had it not been for the "media hype."

But he admits many tourists are making worried inquiries on whether Leh is safe. "Leh is very normal. Tourist groups are making inquiries, but we have had no cancellation yet," Mr Ahmad told NDTV.

Ladakh is a popular tourist destination, both for Indian and overseas travellers.

The Army assesses that the stand-off with China at the Line of Actual Control could continue for weeks. Talks, both at the diplomatic and local military levels, have not yielded results. China continues to insist that its troops are not stationed in Indian territory. The Chinese platoon set up camp in the Depsang Valley on April 15.  

India has reiterated the need to prevent the escalation of hostilities and the Indian Army has ruled a military response to the situation.

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