Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said on Thursday that the Union Territory is regaining its vibrancy, with a noticeable surge in tourist numbers over the past few weeks.
During his media interaction at the travel and tourism event in Kolkata, Abdullah said there is hope for a new beginning in J&K with tourism “bouncing back after the deadly Pahalgam attack on April 22 that left 26 people dead.
Abdullah expressed hope after witnessing a surge in the numbers but said, “2025 has not been an easy year for us. The year can be divided into two parts: before the Pahalgam attack, when Kashmir Valley was packed with tourists, and after the Pahalgam attack, when the region was trying to recover from the massive drop in the numbers.”
Omar expressed his gratitude to the West Bengal government and said, “People of West Bengal are with J&K. The relationship between the two regions transcends over time in the context of ‘trust and affection'.
He added, “West Bengal stood with J&K both politically and economically. We offer adventure and destination tourism. On the ground, there is an air of hope of a new beginning.”
Abdullah also said all necessary security steps have been taken for the safety of tourists in Jammu and Kashmir. “I understand everybody’s concern after the Pahalgam terror attack. But be assured that all security-related steps have been taken by the government and trust the people who have been to the place after the attack rather than believing the ones sitting outside and making judgements without even knowing the place,” he said.
The Amarnath Yatra is going on in the region; the numbers are increasing each day, which is noticeable in the number of incoming flights to Jammu and Kashmir, he added.
While in Kolkata, CM said, “Tourism is bouncing back. I am here in the city (Kolkata) to boost that,” he said. “Tourists can now head back to Pahalgam. Some places need security audits. We are working to give tourists a safe and secure environment,” Abdullah said.
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