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| Department of Tourism Facilitates First-Ever IMF Liaison Officer Training Programme in Ladakh | |
Leh,June 23 (Scoop News)-In a significant step towards strengthening adventure tourism and mountaineering expertise in the region, the Department of Tourism, UT Ladakh, facilitated the first-ever Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF) Liaison Officer (LO) Training Programme in Ladakh. The four-day training programme was conducted from June 15 to 18, 2026, at the State Institute of Hotel Management (SIHM), Leh, for members of the Ladakh Mountain Guides Association (LMGA).
The programme marks a historic milestone as the first IMF Liaison Officer training course conducted in Ladakh and the first such programme organised outside New Delhi exclusively for participants from the region. A total of 15 participants successfully completed the training.
The participants who successfully completed the course and are now eligible to serve as Liaison Officers for IMF-approved mountaineering expeditions across India include Mr. Stanzin Norboo, Mr. Stanzin Chosdan, Mr. Nurboo Zangpo, Mr. Mohd Ali, Mr. Sonam Yangjor, Ms. Tsetan Dolma, Mr. Rigzin Angdu, Mr. Rigzin Dorjai, Mr. Thupstan Dawa, Mr. Sonam Chosphel, Mr. Gegmat Tsundus, Mr. Skalzang Rigzin, Mr. Jigmat Tharchin, and Mr. Tsewang Tundup.
The training programme is expected to provide new opportunities for local youth associated with the LMGA by enabling them to undertake the responsibilities of Liaison Officers on behalf of the IMF. The certification will strengthen their capacity to support the planning, coordination, management, and execution of mountaineering expeditions in Ladakh as well as in other parts of the country.
The training was conducted by expert faculty members of the Indian Mountaineering Foundation under the guidance of Retired Brigadier Shri Krishan Kumar, AVSM, along with other distinguished resource persons. The programme covered key aspects of expedition management, safety protocols, stakeholder coordination, regulatory compliance, and the duties and responsibilities of Liaison Officers.
Speaking on the occasion, Administrative Secretary, Tourism Department, UT Ladakh, Shri Sanjit Rodrigues, IAS, said that the initiative reflects the Administration's commitment to building local capacity in the adventure tourism sector. He stated that by equipping Ladakhi youth with specialised skills and nationally recognised certifications, the programme will enhance professional standards in mountaineering while creating new livelihood opportunities.
He further noted that Ladakh possesses immense potential as a premier destination for high-altitude adventure tourism and that such collaborations are essential to ensure the safe, sustainable, and globally competitive growth of the sector. He emphasised that the initiative would enable trained youth from Ladakh to serve as Liaison Officers for mountaineering expeditions across India, thereby bringing greater recognition to the region.
Shri Rodrigues highlighted that the successful organisation of the programme was the result of sustained engagement between the Department of Tourism and the Indian Mountaineering Foundation. He also acknowledged the IMF's role in imparting specialised knowledge on expedition procedures, permissions, and technical requirements, and for integrating members of the Ladakh Mountain Guides Association into the national pool of Liaison Officers.
The Department of Tourism, UT Ladakh, reaffirmed its commitment to promoting safe and responsible adventure tourism through capacity-building initiatives and strengthening Ladakh's position as a leading destination for mountaineering and high-altitude expeditions.
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