Srinagar, Oct 15, KNT: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said that Jammu and Kashmir’s tourism sector, though battered by multiple crises, remains a beacon of hope for economic revival, adding that the state now looks to rebuild its tourism fortunes on the promise of an expected heavy snowfall this winter.
Addressing an event at a Srinagar hotel, the Chief Minister acknowledged that the journey toward tourism revival has been far from easy, citing a mix of economic slowdown, natural disasters, and external factors that have strained the Union Territory’s economy.
“There has been a clear slowdown in our economy since the middle of April this year, which will impact the government’s ability to spend as we move towards the end of the financial year,” Omar said. He pointed out that the manufacturing, tourism, handicrafts, and handloom sectors had been hit hard, while the recent heavy rains and floods in both Jammu and Kashmir further damaged agriculture and horticulture.
Highlighting the state’s financial strain, Omar said, “Our internal assessment shows that with the recent changes in GST rates, our GST earnings could decline by Rs 900 to Rs 1,000 crore this year. For a financially deficit state, losing such revenue is significant. Yet, this is not a story of pessimism but one of optimism and resilience. We must look forward, not backward.”
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The Chief Minister admitted that the recovery in tourism had been slower than expected. “We had hoped the revival would be quicker. Unfortunately, while summer was a completely lost season, even autumn hasn’t been as strong as we anticipated. The slowdown in arrivals from the eastern parts of India, especially during the Punjab holidays, has affected us,” he said.
Reflecting on the difficult year, Omar noted that the Pahalgam attack, the India-Pakistan conflict, and the subsequent monsoon floods had collectively battered public morale and economic stability. “The situation has been extremely difficult. Heavy rains in July, August, and September caused extensive losses. But we are determined to rebuild. One of our teams is currently in Singapore to promote tourism in Southeast Asia, which is a major potential market for us. We are also reaching out to domestic markets in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Kolkata, and Ahmedabad,” he said.
The Chief Minister said that the government remains hopeful that the approaching winter could mark a turning point. “We hear that this winter will be more extreme than in previous years, which could mean more snow. If that happens, we will rebuild tourism on the snow. Snow has always been our greatest asset, and we will use it to bring tourists back to Jammu and Kashmir,” Omar added.
He reiterated that while the challenges are substantial, the administration’s focus is on restoring confidence, boosting marketing efforts, and ensuring that Jammu and Kashmir regains its position as one of India’s premier tourist destinations. [KNT]
