Union Minister for Tourism, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat today said that tourism in Kashmir is witnessing a revival after the recent setback caused by the Pahalgam terror attack.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Tourism Secretaries Conference in Srinagar, Shekhawat credited the coordinated efforts of the Jammu and Kashmir administration and the Central Government for rebuilding confidence among travellers and stakeholders.
“After the Pahalgam incident, there was a visible slowdown in tourist footfall. However, things are now turning around. The Union Territory administration has taken swift and commendable steps, supported by multiple central delegations and ministerial visits. This confidence-building drive is beginning to yield results,” Shekhawat said.
Recalling his earlier visit to the Valley in June, the Minister said he travelled across the region to send out a clear message that Kashmir remains a safe destination for tourists. “We must not allow isolated incidents to derail the steady growth Kashmir’s tourism sector has seen over the past three years. We must move forward,” he said.
Shekhawat noted that the conclave was organized with two key objectives — to reinforce the message of safety and recovery among officials from across the country, and to align with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of developing 50 world-class iconic tourism destinations across India.
Tourism secretaries from all states and UTs are in Kashmir to witness the ground situation and help build a positive narrative back home. This will further push domestic tourism.
He said the conclave would also explore “out-of-the-box” ideas to draft a comprehensive roadmap for sustainable tourism development in the region and beyond.