Access to 48 J&K tourist spots blocked amid major counter-terror operations

Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir have temporarily shut down 48 out of 87 tourist destinations across the Valley due to “security reasons”, officials said on Tuesday. The move comes amid massive counter-terror operations underway in multiple locations, including the dense forests of south Kashmir, following the last week’s attack in Pahalgam.

A senior official told The Tribune that the closures spanned multiple districts and were based on the “current security situation”. These measures were intended to ensure tourist safety and were expected to be “temporary”, with sites reopening once conditions improved, he said.

The police have questioned over 2,000 people across various parts of the region and intensified raids in the wake of the attack. Regarding the closed tourist spots, sources said security forces would be deployed at these locations and tourists would not be allowed access.

The UT’s tourism department is yet to issue an official statement on the matter.

In Bandipora district, the Gurez Valley, located along the Line of Control (LoC) and a major tourist destination in recent years, has been closed to non-local tourists. In Budgam, popular spots like Tousimaidan have been shut. Similarly, in Kulgam, Aharbal will remain closed, along with several other destinations across different districts.

In north Kashmir, the Bangus Valley has been closed to tourists, while in neighbouring Baramulla, the Kaman Post in Uri, near the LoC, will remain shut. The sources said Kousarnag, a high-altitude lake in south Kashmir, would remain closed as well.

The Tribune had reported last week that authorities were likely to temporarily restrict tourist access to remote destinations lacking adequate security. Officials in the Valley believe it is “currently impractical” to provide full-time security in these isolated locations.

The sources also clarified that major tourist destinations remained open and the current decision was taken “for the safety of the visitors”.  However, tourism experts say the move is bad news for the industry. “Tourists now have very limited space to explore," Rauf Tramboo, president of the Travel Agents Association of Kashmir, told The Tribune. He said they were closely monitoring the situation.

The closures come at a time when tourism in the region has been experiencing significant growth. Last year, Jammu and Kashmir recorded its highest-ever tourist footfall, with 2.36 crore visitors, including domestic travellers, foreign tourists, and pilgrims to Amarnath and Mata Vaishno Devi.

Additionally, many tourists had begun exploring lesser-known spots in Kashmir and the number of trekkers from across the country had recently increased.