Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah hailed the lively scenes in Pahalgam, saying it was “bustling with activity” as tourists trickled back to the scenic town weeks after it fell silent following the terror attack.

Back in Pahalgam for his second visit in a month, Abdullah shared images of crowded streets and traffic jams as Kashmir began to see the first signs of a tourism revival. Such was the buzzing scene in Pahalgam that tourists from various parts of the country had to compete for space with local picnickers, the Chief Minister said.

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“The last time I was in Pahalgam I cycled through a market that was all but deserted. Today I came back to a Pahalgam that was bustling with activity. Tourists from various parts of the country competed for space with local picnickers who were enjoying the cool climate and rainy weather,” he tweeted.

“It is very satisfying to see the efforts my colleagues and I have been putting in slowly bearing fruit,” Abdullah further said.

In the last week of May, Abdullah and his ministers moved out of the capital, Srinagar, to hold a Cabinet meeting in Pahalgam in an attempt to instil confidence in the wake of the terror attack in Baisaran Valley, which left 25 tourists and a local dead.

The attack by Lashkar terrorists saw the government closing several tourist destinations in Kashmir as the Union Territory saw a massive tourist exodus. Hotels reported 80% booking cancellations in May.

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However, with the reopening of 16 of the 48 tourist destinations that had been shut, tourism seems to have made a revival in “Paradise on Earth” (as Kashmir is known).

The tourism industry is the lifeline of Kashmir. It accounts for nearly 7-8 per cent of Jammu and Kashmir’s GDP. It is even more for the Valley.

Published By: Abhishek De Published On: Jun 23, 2025

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