My dear friends, do we have a vision for the sustainable development of the tourism industry in Ladakh? Thousands of Ladakhis are depending upon this industry for their livelihood. It is almost three decades that Ladakh has been open to the outside world but unfortunately we still don't have a professional training institute for hospitality and tourism management. The majority of ladakhi people who are engaged in this industry don't have any professional training background. Only a handful of people belonging to well off family are having the privilege of professional training. Tourism is a dynamic and an innovative industry; it demands continuous education process and vast knowledge about people, culture, management, marketing etc. Interestingly couple of travel agencies owned by Ladakhi people has got the world class standard. I salute them for their accomplishments and contributions, but exception is always there. Here we are talking about the whole industry in a much broader perspective.

We may develop the best of infrastructure, but how it is going to help Ladakhis, when people are not having the right knowledge and skills. Its only the people from Delhi, Kashmir, Mumbai, Nepal etc that take the major share of the cake, while giving pea nuts to the Ladakhis. Majority of the Ladakhi owned travel agencies depend on travel agencies outside of Ladakh. They exploit the local travel agencies by giving inadequate share and delaying the payments. Mushrooming of travel agencies makes their task little easier to exploit. Many times the travel agencies could not live up to their expectation due to various reasons but one of the prominent reasons for not being able to live up to their expectation is lack of professional training. Tourism being a glamorous industry fascinates Ladakhi youth to join without any proper training. Lack of professional skills and knowledge about the industry makes them vulnerable for exploitation and unnecessary harassment. Without having modern skills and knowledge it is difficult to survive in this industry, rather it is more difficult to come out of it due to the exorbitant glittering western life style, which is like opium for the young people.

Are they responsible for the failure or long gestation period for their success in the business? Sincerely, I don't agree with this opinion. I can see Ladakhi youth possessing all the qualities essential for a successful entrepreneur except the professional training. Many of you will agree with me that "It's The Government Policy of No Policy on Tourism Policy" which is responsible for their present situation? The lack of government's vision, purpose and clarity of understanding of the local problems and potentials is clearly visible as unorganized tourism sector with abundant potential yet to be tapped properly. Please by government I mean the local autonomous council as well as state and centre government. I know the council has got limited scope and powers but even if it is used properly it can move mountains. Let's "Wait and watch", oh sorry rather I should say "Lets Participate and Make It Happen", as the people's participation is very significant for good governance and democracy. Even after thirty years we don't have a policy. But Why? Please I don't have the answer you need to quest for the truth and ask our leaders. And please ask them; when are we going to have a policy? The vision 2025 prepared by LAHDC Leh is a fascinating wish list without any time bound systematic break up. I wish Santa Claus to come and make these dreams come true.

The government may excuse that it will take some years to establish a quality professional institute. In that case the government should not hesitate to sponsor the prospective Ladakhi young people for professional training on hospitality and tourism management outside. Banking should also come forward as they entail a moral responsibility for social development besides circulating the public money by taking and giving back to them. Banking should provide scholarship to the prospective students and provide easy, faster, affordable and realistic loans to the young people.

The quality of the business depends upon the quality of the people involved in it. It is high time that the government should invest in quality human resource development besides giving heavy subsidies for hotels and guesthouses. Concerned individual should appeal and propose to the government to establish a quality professional institute for hospitality and tourism management in Ladakh. People from Himachal, Sikkim, Bhutan, North East, Tibet and other places can also avail this facility in Ladakh. It can be an institute for human excellence, where people from different regions and cultures can meet and discuss about the future development while learning from each other. The educated ladakhi and those who have concerned for Ladakh's future must be interested to have a tourism policy. We should know; which direction are we going? Why are we going in that direction? Which direction we should go? How we can reach our goal? The globalization is like a Nazi's camp, if we want to survive, sustain and prosper we must have a vision, other wise any road can take us there...AS IT IS TAKING NOW