Shekhawat Lists Measures To Boost J&K Tourism
Despite the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, the Centre has taken several steps to instill confidence among travellers, Union tourism minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat informed the Lok Sabha in response to a question by AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi.
Hyderabad:Despite the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, the Centre has taken several steps to instill confidence among travellers, Union tourism minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat informed the Lok Sabha in response to a question by AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi.
While the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) tourism department maintains regular records of tourist inflow, the Union tourism ministry has not conducted a formal study of the economic impact on local stakeholders, Shekhawat said.
However, official data indicates a steady growth in footfall. Domestic tourist numbers rose from 2.5 million in 2020 to 23.5 million in 2024. Between January and June this year, 9.5 million domestic tourists visited the Union Territory. The number of international tourists grew from 5,000 in 2020 to 65,000 in 2024, with over 19,000 arriving so far this year.
He listed the Centre’s initiatives to promote the region’s tourism industry. Tourism is also being promoted through niche sectors such as wellness, culinary, eco and rural tourism, he said.
Still, the Pahalgam attack continues to impact the region’s tourism sector, with increased cancellations and a dip in bookings. The government hopes its sustained infrastructure push and reassurance campaigns will help restore normalcy.
Separately, Owaisi criticised the Election Commission (EC) for launching a “Special Intensive Revision (SIR)” of electoral rolls ahead of key Assembly elections in Bihar. In a social media post, he alleged that the revision forces voters to produce documentary proof of citizenship, leaving them vulnerable to harassment and extortion due to arbitrary criteria imposed by the EC.
