A cabinet meeting led by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah began at Pahalgam in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Tuesday, after a month of deadly terrorist attack that killed 26 people in the region.
An official told reporters that the cabinet meeting being held for the first time in Pahalgam is aimed at sending a message of peace and normalcy to the tourists, who mostly deserted the Valley after the April 22 terror attack in which 26 civilians, including 25 tourists, were killed.
This is the first time that the Cabinet meeting is being held away from the civil secretariat or the chief minister’s residence in Jammu and Srinagar.
The meeting will be focused on reviving tourism post-Pahalgam attack, and ensuring the safe and smooth conduct of the Amarnath Yatra will also be discussed, an official said.
Following the aftermath of the April 22 Pahalgam attack, the Jammu and Kashmir tourism industry has shrunk by more than 90 per cent.
The hotel occupancy rate has dropped significantly in the backdrop of the attack, while authorities and stakeholders are trying their best to revive confidence amongst tourists.
Additionally, stakeholders, including travel agencies, hoteliers, and restaurant owners, are now offering massive discounts aimed at encouraging tourists to visit the place.
The prices for popular hotels have dropped by more than 50 per cent compared to pre-Pahalgam attack.
Though the industry is reviving gradually, achieving the pre-Pahalgam attack ratio might take years of serious efforts from the administration before tourists start flocking back to popular destinations in Jammu and Kashmir.
The tourism industry directly contributes 7-8 per cent to the overall GDP of Jammu and Kashmir; however, the sector in Kashmir has been badly hit after the Pahalgam attack on April 22 this year.
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