SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said his government was focused on making Jammu and Kashmir a destination that visitors would not only enjoy but wish to return to, as he underscored efforts to enhance infrastructure and experience for tourists across the Union Territory.
Speaking at the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) event ‘Rally for the Valley’ in Srinagar—a symbolic campaign to revive tourism in the region—Omar said, “Tourists don’t just visit places. They carry back experiences that they share with others. We are working to ensure that their experience in J&K makes them want to come back.”
The event, hosted by TAAI’s J&K chapter, brought together major stakeholders from India’s travel and hospitality sector, including TAAI President Sunil Kumar and leading hotel industry representatives from the Valley.
The Chief Minister said that the government was using the present lull in tourism to ramp up infrastructure and improve services. He specifically cited the upgradation of the Gulmarg Gondola as a priority, saying he had already directed the cable car corporation to enhance capacity, streamline ticketing, and improve the visitor experience.
On the tragic April 22 terror attack in Baisaran that killed 26 people—25 tourists and a local—the Chief Minister said it had deeply shaken the region and triggered an outpouring of solidarity across Jammu and Kashmir. “For the first time in my memory, people across the Union Territory came out spontaneously to denounce the attack. It wasn’t orchestrated. It was real, emotional. It showed the world that the people of Kashmir do not stand with violence,” he said.
Calling the current moment a “winter of catastrophic proportions,” Omar struck a hopeful note. “But winter is just a season. It cannot last forever. The snow must melt,” he said, expressing confidence in the revival of tourism.
Highlighting improved connectivity to the Valley, the Chief Minister said, “Today, Kashmir has a railway. You crossed the highest railway bridge in the world and the only cable-stayed railway bridge in the country. These are engineering marvels in a difficult terrain, and they are game-changers for us.”
The Chief Minister, who also holds the tourism portfolio, expressed his gratitude to TAAI for continuing its engagement with J&K during difficult times. “This visit under the present circumstances is a genuine show of friendship. Thank you for standing by us,” he said, addressing the visiting delegation.
Advisor to the CM Nasir Aslam Wani, MLAs Mubarak Gul, Farooq Ahmed Shah, and Tanvir Sadiq, hoteliers Mushtaq Chaya and Mushtaq Burza, and several senior tourism officials were also present at the event.
