Tourism badly hit in Kashmir, focus now on ensuring peaceful Amarnath Yatra: Omar

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah stated that with tourist arrivals to the Kashmir valley severely impacted due to the Pahalgam terror attack and subsequent incidents, the government’s current focus was on conducting an incident-free annual Amarnath Yatra, which begins on July 3.

Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, Abdullah said that tourism had been badly affected, and the summer season was largely washed out. “Tourism has been hit quite badly. This summer season of ours is more or less now washed out; we hardly have any tourists coming. Now, we are focused on the Amarnath Yatra.”

“We want the Amarnath Yatra to proceed without any incidents, and we want all the yatris to return safe and sound. After that, we will begin to look at what we can do to promote tourism,” he added.

The Jammu and Kashmir tourism sector had experienced a boom in the past few years. However, following last month’s major terror attack in Pahalgam, where 25 tourists and a local pony operator were killed, and the subsequent tensions between India and Pakistan, Kashmir’s tourism sector has been significantly impacted.

Regarding the present situation along the International Border and the Line of Control (LoC), Omar said that, as of now, there were no reports of violations of the understanding reached between India and Pakistan.

“Assessment of the damage is being done. Once the damage assessment report is available, we will work on the compensation package. We will do whatever we can, and whatever help we need from the Centre, we will request it,” he added.

Omar also mentioned that sending all-party delegations to foreign countries was a good opportunity to present India’s viewpoint following the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor.

“Members of all major parties will be included in these delegations, and it is a good opportunity to present India’s viewpoint to important countries,” he stated.

He recalled that after the attack on Parliament in 2001 during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, delegations were sent to some countries in a similar manner. “Parliamentary delegations were sent to foreign countries during Operation Parakram. It is a good initiative,” the Chief Minister added.

J & K