Local stakeholders are ideal for eco-sensitive destinations like Ladhak: Lobzang Tsendol

Lobzang Tsendol, the founder of Royal Explorers, is the first women tour operator of Leh Ladakh who, over the decades, has emerged as an essential stakeholder in Ladakh's tourism industry.

In an exclusive interaction, Tsendol justifies why it is relevant to keep big businesses from outside at bay in ecologically and socio-culturally sensitive destinations like Leh Ladakh to make tourism genuinely exceptional for travellers while supporting conservation and socio-economic development.

It has been three decades since Lobzang Tsendol started her professional career in 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 many women coming forward and participating in the burgeoning tourism business in varied capacities in the following decades.

At the recent Rpal Ngam Duston ceremony, a prestigious event in Ladakh that celebrates significant contributions to the region, Lobzang Tsendol was honoured by the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council for her unwavering dedication and innovative approaches to promoting the region's unique life, culture, landscape, and hospitality to the global audience.

Although she did not grow up in Ladhak, she always maintained a deep connection with the region's landscape and a strong sense of community that defines the area. The fascination for the beautiful landscape and the life and culture of the region brought her close to tourism as she felt it was the right place for her to develop a deep understanding of these aspects and then promote it to the travellers and the world outside.

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

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

There was resistance from her family and society against going out with foreign tourists as tour escorts. Still, she remained determined and made her mark slowly and steadily. "I started 1994 as a guide and then established Royal Explorers a year later. I wanted to provide something different 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 being a tour operator, Tsendol expanded her business to hotels and homestays. Her success has inspired many women to join the industry and find their niche as tour guides, cooks, homestay operators, etc. "It is quite fulfilling to see the change in mindset of women folk in the region. This has allowed these women to earn a livelihood and gain confidence in their capabilities," she observed.

"We do not follow the run-of-the-mill itineraries. We design customized itineraries for our guests. We take them beyond Nubra Pangong and Tso Moriri to remote villages and help them understand the life and culture of the villagers. We organize treks of three days to a month duration," she said, explaining the difference in approach to showcasing the true Ladkh to visitors.

The global health crises and the improvements in connectivity, both led by road and by air to Ladakh, have 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 lot of pressure on the ecosystem, and efforts by the local administration to bring specific guidelines to check pollution, waste management, etc, are also falling apart sometimes. Tourists often disrespect things the locals treat as sacred. She says they walk on the prayer flags and litter around stupas and monasteries.

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

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

Royal Explorers also manages two accommodation units in Ladakh: a Swiss-tented accommodation, Royal Deluxe Camp in Nubra, and a 20-room hotel in Leh, Hotel Ladakh Heights. "We opened Hotel Ladakh Heights in August this year. It is not yet fully operational, but it is a Super Deluxe category hotel with local architecture," she said.

"Outsiders won't understand the values and sentiments of the local people. Therefore, there are restrictions on big brands establishing their branches in Ladakh," she said, supporting such restrictions. She informed me that big hospitality players always had the ambition to launch their business in Leh Ladakh, which the local stakeholders' associations resisted occasionally.

While tourism can be a significant economic driver for the region, she feels too much of it will have disastrous implications for Ladakh's highly fragile ecosystem. "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 trampled upon for tourism," she says.

Local operators pay much 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 have also been actively cleaning trekking routes and promoting eco-friendly products to reduce waste."

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