As the number of pilgrims to have paid obeisance at the holy cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir crossed the 4 lakh mark on Thursday, the very smooth conduct of the Yatra has rekindled the hopes regarding the revival of tourism in Kashmir. Following Pahalgam terror attack, Kashmir’s tourism industry has been hit hard. While on that tragic day, all the tourist destinations were abuzz with tourists from all over the country, the very next day, these happening places were deserted. Since then the governments, both in New Delhi and in Srinagar, have been trying to revive the industry again and in this regard the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah has once again invited the people of the country to visit Jammu and Kashmir during a tourism promotion event organised by the Travel Agents Society of Kashmir (TASK), apex body of tour operators of Kashmir in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Citing the number of pilgrims who have visited both Mata Vaishno Devi and Amarnath shrine, CM said that though the Pahalgam terror attack has dented the tourism sector badly but lakhs of people have already visited Jammu and Kashmir to these pilgrim sites (after the Pahalgam attack) and therefore “we just want more people to visit Jammu and Kashmir. So don’t harbour any misunderstanding.”
It goes without saying that a huge chunk of population in Jammu and Kashmir is directly or indirectly affiliated with tourism sector. In Jammu, the main activity remains the pilgrim tourism, in Kashmir, it is sightseeing, trekking, skiing and leisure trips etc. From past few years, the tourist foot-fall had increased manifold and thus a lot of jobless educated people had been able to earn a dignified livelihood. But the enemy was waiting in wings with its dirty planning and executed the same on April 22, 2025. Besides killing 27 innocent civilians, it attacked and destroyed the livelihood of thousands of families.
It is heartening to note that the governments, both at the Centre and in Srinagar are making all efforts to revive tourism. Sometime back, union agriculture and rural development minister, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, during his Kashmir visit, appealed to the countrymen to visit Jammu and Kashmir, saying, “people here are waiting to welcome with their hearts filled with love and warmth. So, come here without fear and set a new example of love and brotherhood.” Union minister for tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat too has been appealing countrymen to visit Kashmir.
Such reassuring statements from the top leadership of the nation besides UT government’s efforts to have events in different parts of the country to invite people to visit Kashmir, are clear indications that the Union Government is too keen and serious to help revive tourism. As the Amarnath Yatra is progressing smoothly and huge number of pilgrims have already visited the cave shrine, there are high hopes within the Kashmir that the successful Yatra will undoubtedly restore the confidence of the countrymen and they would again start visiting this paradise on earth which is waiting with open arms and hearts.