CM Omar to hold key meetings in Pahalgam, Gulmarg to discuss tourism revival

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The attack in Pahalgam dealt a serious blow to Kashmir’s tourism sector, which had otherwise seen significant growth over the past few years. In the aftermath, a large number of tourists cancelled their planned visits, severely impacting the local tourism industry.

According to official sources, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, along with several ministers, will visit Pahalgam on Tuesday to conduct meetings. A senior government official stated that the Chief Minister is likely to hold a Cabinet meeting and also engage with local tourism stakeholders at the resort. On Wednesday, he will chair a broader meeting in Gulmarg, North Kashmir, with ministers, administrative secretaries, the divisional commissioner of Kashmir, department heads, and senior police officers.

The General Administration Department has already issued a notification regarding the Gulmarg meeting.

Officials indicated that these meetings are part of a government strategy to send a clear message: the administration, led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, is reaching out to people on the ground.

Stakeholders in the tourism industry have long been urging the government to take meaningful action to revive tourism in the Valley. In Pahalgam, many in the tourism sector expressed disappointment over the Chief Minister’s delayed visit following the attack. Mushtaq Pahalgami, president of the Pahalgam Hotel and Guest House Owners Association, recently criticised elected representatives for their "noticeable absence" during the crisis.

A senior National Conference leader noted that holding such meetings at key tourist locations could aid in rebuilding confidence and reviving tourism in the Valley, which is currently facing a turbulent period.

Omar Abdullah, who also holds the tourism portfolio, had recently remarked that the government was waiting for the situation to stabilize further before engaging with stakeholders to formulate a revival strategy.

On Monday, Abdullah met with a delegation from Thomas Cook, a global travel and forex company. “We discussed strengthening tourism and travel opportunities in Jammu & Kashmir,” he stated on his official X account.