Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah announced on Saturday, October 18, 2025, that his government’s initiatives to revitalize tourism in the Union territory can only succeed once the tourist spots, which were shut down after the Pahalgam terror attack, are fully reopened. He stressed that these locations remained open even during the peak of militancy.
“First, we must reopen those places that have been closed. These areas were not shut down for 35 years. Even when militancy was at its height, places like Drang or Doodhpathri were not closed, nor were the upper regions of Gulmarg or the Aru valley,” he explained to reporters in Srinagar.
Mr. Abdullah emphasized the need for courage to reopen these critical tourist sites and to promote them effectively to the wider world.
Addressing criticisms that his administration was overly focused on tourism, the Chief Minister responded, “We are making efforts at our level despite being taunted about our extensive tourism promotion. We understand that the livelihoods of millions of people depend on this industry, and we are committed to restoring tourism to the vibrant levels it enjoyed before the Pahalgam attack.”
The Chief Minister further detailed his government’s proactive steps, mentioning that teams have been dispatched abroad to boost tourism. A significant delegation is currently in Singapore, working to revive tourism from Southeast Asia, with plans to visit Berlin and London next month for additional promotional activities.
“Domestically, Nasir (Aslam Wani) recently visited Udaipur for similar promotions. We are leaving no stone unturned,” he stated. “While I cannot say the Centre has not supported us, the unfortunate reality is that we are witnessing a divergence of voices within J&K itself.
“On one hand, the elected government advocates for tourism promotion, but on the other, the unelected government has kept a significant portion of Kashmir inaccessible for tourism,” he elaborated.
Mr. Abdullah concluded by noting that if there is hesitation to reopen renowned resorts such as Doodhpathri, Drang, and parts of Gulmarg, “it indicates a perceived danger. And that, fundamentally, is why tourists are not returning.”