SRINAGAR: Political leaders and tourism stakeholders in Jammu and Kashmir have called on the administration to reopen dozens of tourist destinations that were shut down in the wake of the deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22, which left 25 tourists and a local resident dead.
Leading the appeal, Congress Legislature Party (CLP) Leader and All India Congress Committee general secretary Ghulam Ahmad Mir on Thursday met Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and urged an immediate reopening of the closed tourist sites. Mir also called for compensation for tourism stakeholders who have suffered significant losses due to the closures.
“I apprised the LG of the economic fallout following the closure of these destinations. Serious efforts are needed to revive tourism, which is central to the region’s economy,” Mir said. He stressed that the continued restrictions were damaging livelihoods and undermining confidence among visitors and investors.
The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), led by president Javid Ahmed Tenga, also met the Lieutenant Governor today and discussed key concerns of the region’s trade and tourism sectors. According to a source familiar with the meeting, the reopening of tourist destinations was among the major issues raised.
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) spokesperson Zuhaib Mir said the sites should be reopened gradually, starting with local visitors. “This would help restore public confidence, revive the economy, and send a message of stability,” he said, cautioning that the prolonged closures contradicted official claims of normalcy in the region.
“Despite assertions of peace and stability since 2019, keeping 48 destinations off limits tells the world a different story,” he added.
The affected sites include Gurez, Bangus, Naranag, Yousmarg, Doodpathri, Tosamaidan, Kousernag, Duksum, Sinthan Top, Margan Top, Aru and several others—many of which are popular with trekkers, backpackers and adventure tourists.
Tourism stakeholders say the sector, which had witnessed a boom with over 3 crore tourist arrivals since 2021, has been hit hard since the Pahalgam attack and the subsequent cross-border tensions following India’s ‘Operation Sindoor’.
Athar Yamin of the Travel Agents Society Kashmir (TASK) said the suspension of access to these areas had severely disrupted tourist inflow. “We urge the government to reopen the sites with adequate security protocols. That is the only way to restore confidence among tourists,” he said.
Echoing the sentiment, tour operator Farooq Kuthoo—who specialises in promoting lesser-known destinations—said the closure risked fulfilling the objectives of those who attacked Pahalgam. “We are receiving queries, but we can’t offer anything beyond Dal Lake and Gulmarg. This shutdown is like surrendering the sector to those who wanted to paralyse it,” he said. (With ETV Bharat Inputs)
