SRINAGAR: The Union Territory of Ladakh is witnessing a steady rise in tourist arrivals, with foreign tourist numbers doubling in June and Israeli nationals accounting for the largest share of international visitors to the cold desert.
According to figures released by the Ladakh administration, foreign tourist arrivals rose from 3,349 in June 2025 to 6,680 in June 2026, registering a 99.46 per cent increase.
The sharp rise reflects Ladakh's growing popularity among international travellers seeking high-altitude adventure experiences.
Official figures show Israeli nationals accounted for the highest number of foreign visitors, followed by tourists from Thailand, the United States, Vietnam, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Japan, Malaysia, Australia, Taiwan, Russia, Italy, South Korea, Spain and several other European and Southeast Asian countries.
Overall tourist arrivals in Ladakh reached 1,07,740 in June 2026, up 43.48 per cent from 75,089 recorded in June 2025.
According to official data, a total of 2,25,286 tourists visited Ladakh during the first six months of 2026, including 2,11,645 domestic and 13,641 foreign visitors.
The administration is focusing on diversifying tourism beyond the conventional summer season by promoting winter tourism, adventure tourism, high-altitude trekking, wildlife tourism, rural tourism, wellness tourism, cultural tourism, spiritual tourism and astro-tourism.
Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena said the latest figures reflect the growing confidence of travellers in Ladakh as one of India's most sought-after year-round destinations and underscore the success of the UT administration's sustained efforts.
He said tourism remains one of the strongest pillars of Ladakh's economy and a vital source of livelihood for thousands of people.
According to Saxena, the significant increase in tourist arrivals reflects sustained efforts to position Ladakh as a premier year-round tourism destination while ensuring sustainable and environmentally responsible development.
"This growth brings renewed confidence and economic opportunities for our hoteliers, guest house owners, homestay operators, tour operators, transporters, trekking guides, artisans, entrepreneurs and local communities whose livelihoods depend on tourism," Saxena said.
He also attributed the tourism surge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's push for domestic tourism and the infrastructure boost in Ladakh, which he said has accelerated tourism, strengthened the local economy and generated employment.