Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, while on a two-day visit to Gujarat to promote tourism, acknowledged that the recent Pahalgam terror attack significantly impacted the region’s tourism industry. The attack, which occurred on April 22 and claimed the lives of 26 tourists, including several from Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Karnataka, led to an immediate exodus of visitors and dealt a severe blow to Kashmir’s tourism economy.
Speaking to reporters, Abdullah stated, “I am not denying that the Pahalgam terror attack had affected our tourism industry. Because it happened in the beginning of the peak season and everyone left the state overnight after the attack.”
Despite this setback, Abdullah emphasized that the tourism sector in Jammu and Kashmir is actively working towards recovery. He asserted, “But Kashmir is not empty and we have not come here in despair. We just want more people to visit Jammu and Kashmir. So don’t harbour any misunderstanding.” He highlighted that lakhs of pilgrims have already visited Kashmir for the Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra and the Amarnath Yatra since the attack, indicating a resilient spirit among visitors.
Abdullah’s visit was part of a tourism promotion event organized by the Travel Agents Society of Kashmir (TASK), the apex body of tour operators in the region, underscoring the collaborative efforts to revitalize tourism in the Union Territory.
