KT NEWS SERVICE LEH, May 6 : On the representation of Tour and Travel Operators Association Leh for reconsidering the imposition of entry tax on foreign tourists to Leh, the Executive Council of LAHDC Leh met today under the chairmanship of Chief Executive Councillor, Rigzin Spalbar.
The issue was discussed threat bare and it was decided that order for charging of entry fee from foreign tourists be kept in abeyance.
Giving details, Deputy Commissioner/Chief Executive Officer, LAHDC, Leh Satish Nehru said that entry fee of Rs.400 for entry to Leh district and Rs.800 for entry to areas including Pangong Lake, Tsomoriri, Nubra valley and Dha Hanu was levied for foreign tourists in terms of councils decision in 1999 followed by approval of the same by government in Ladakh Affairs Department.
The purpose of levying entry tax for foreign tourists was to create resources for improving overall sanitation of district Leh.
Though, the order for charging entry tax was issued in 1999, its implementation was not effected.
During the month of March 2005 Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Leh had decided to charge entry fee for foreign tourists @ Rs.400 with effect from April Ist, 2005 per individual and charging of Rs.800 for visiting areas like Pangong Lake, Tsomoriri, Nubra valley and Dha Hanu was not to be implemented for the time being.
So far, an amount of over Rs.1.50 lakh has been recovered from foreigners and it was observed that many of the foreign tourists were too happy to contribute for improving sanitation and ecology of the district, especially tourist's areas.
However, some tour operators and travel agents of Leh represented that this step may impede attraction of foreign tourists to Leh.
In view of this apprehension, Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Leh decided to keep the order of charging entry fee from foreign tourists in abeyance with immediate effect.
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