Srinagar, October 14
While discussing the declining tourism economy of Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed concerns, stating that the state has witnessed a significant dip in terms of economy generated through tourism due to border issues and adverse climate conditions.
Speaking to ANI, Abdullah stated, "This year has been difficult for us. First, the Pahalgam terror attack and then the India-Pakistan conflict. Then, in the months of July, August, and September, there were heavy losses due to rain and flash floods. The result is that the condition in Jammu and Kashmir is very bad..."
He mentioned that the promotion of the state's tourism is ongoing in India and abroad. "For tourism promotion, one of our teams is in Singapore. Southeast Asia is a very big market for tourism, and we are trying to capitalise on that. We are also promoting tourism in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Ahmedabad," he said.
Meanwhile, popular tourist spots remain deserted due to recent militant attacks and natural calamities like cloudbursts and flash floods.
Local residents, heavily reliant on tourism for their livelihoods, are urging the government to intervene and revive the industry.
Yasir, a local tourism professional, said, "I've been working in tourism [sector] for the last 8-10 years. I've never seen such conditions in the last eight years. In the past two years, the situation has been dire. You can see the silence here. After the Pahalgam attack, there were absolutely zero tourists for two and a half months. Then, after the summer season arrived, 30 per cent of our tourists came here. However, after that, many people suffered losses due to cloudbursts and flash floods in Kishtwar. No one wants to come here anymore."
Another local added, "The recent flash floods have caused significant damage to the tourism sector. Previously, lakhs of tourists visited the area, but today, it's completely deserted. The local youth used to support themselves through the tourism sector, but now, they are jobless. I request that the tourism sector be revived as soon as possible."
— ANI
Reader Comments
I visited Kashmir last year and it was absolutely beautiful. The locals were so warm and welcoming. It's sad to see them suffering like this. We should all support domestic tourism and visit J&K when possible.
While I sympathize with the situation, the government should have had better contingency plans. Security and disaster management should be top priorities for a tourist-dependent state. Hope they learn from this.
The promotion efforts in Singapore and other cities are good, but they need to address safety concerns first. No amount of marketing will help if tourists don't feel secure. Safety should be the number one priority.
My cousin runs a houseboat business in Dal Lake and he's really struggling. The government needs to provide immediate financial assistance to these small businesses. Tourism is their only source of income.
Natural calamities are beyond control, but the security situation should have been handled better. The administration needs to work on both short-term relief and long-term solutions. Jai Hind! 🇮🇳
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