Tourism in Gurez Valley takes a hit amid security concerns

For the past few years, the border town of Gurez Valley in North Kashmir had emerged as a major tourist destination, drawing handsome tourist footfall. However, the recent terror attack in Pahalgam in April and escalating tensions between India and Pakistan have cast a shadow over tourism across the valley—Gurez being among the worst affected.

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After the Pahalgam attack, authorities temporarily closed 48 of the 87 tourist destinations across the Valley due to “security reasons”.

In Gurez, the impact is more, locals say. “The situation has badly impacted Gurez’s economy. Almost everyone here had begun relying on tourism,” said Ghulam Nabi Lone, president of the Hotelier Association in Gurez. “Even unemployed youth had found work in the tourism industry.”

He said currently authorities have halted all travel to Gurez—both from within Kashmir and other states. As a result, hotels, homestays, and guesthouses have shut down, he added.

The picturesque forested valley, nestled near the Line of Control, rose to prominence in recent years, with its Dawar village even receiving the Best Tourism Village Award from the Union Tourism Ministry in 2023.

“Locals here invested a lot recently because we saw an increased number of visitors during the last few years,” said Lone, adding that around record number of visitors last year visited Gurez Valley.

Lone said the association has already approached the district administration and the police regarding the matter. “We have been assured that it will reopen soon," he said

In just a few years, Gurez saw the development of around 20 hotels and 50 homestays and guesthouses.

“During the summer, it used to be impossible to find a room here. But now, my hotel is locked up,” said a local hotelier. He urged the government to consider at least reopening Gurez to domestic tourists from within Jammu and Kashmir.

“We have a very short tourism window—it’s already June and we’ve had no business this year. We request the government to look into it and allow the tourists to visit Gurez,” said the hotelier, adding that many people have taken bank loans to invest in the tourism sector.

While Jammu and Kashmir Police cite ongoing security concerns, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah recently remarked, “If we truly want tourism to restart, we must gradually review and shorten the list of restricted areas.”

Rauf Tramboo, president of the Travel Agents Association of Kashmir, said destinations like Gurez saw a huge rush of visitors in the recent past. “We are also waiting for the administration's decision about reopening tourist spots,” he said.