The base-camp of Siachen glacier, the world’s highest and coldest battlefield, was opened on Monday for domestic tourists on the occasion of World Tourism Day, officials said Member of Parliament, Ladakh, Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, inaugurated the opening of the Siachen base camp for domestic tourists, an official spokesman said.

The theme for this World Tourism Day is ‘tourism for inclusive growth’.

The step has been taken to boost tourism in Ladakh and give people a window to appreciate the tough work done by army jawans and engineers in extreme weather and inhospitable terrains, the officials said.

The MP along with others visited the war memorial at the Siachen base camp and paid homage to the martyrs.

Secretary Tourism, Ladakh, Mehboob Ali Khan, flagged-off a cleanliness drive from the tourist reception centre as a part of ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ commemorating 75 years of India’s Independence.

The department of tourism, Leh, also organised a cleanliness drive along with various stakeholders of the tourism industry such as All Ladakh Tour Operators Association (ALTOA), All Ladakh Hotels and Guest Houses Association (ALHGHA), Ladakh Mountain Guide Association (LMGA) and others. Sanitisers, masks and garbage bags were distributed.

The cleanliness drive would be observed at popular tourist places, including the Sindhu Ghat and Rock-Climbing area of Shey Manla, the officials said.

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