Omar admits Kashmir tourism slump post Pahalgam terror attack
Aligarh: Tourism in Kashmir Valley has seen a sharp decline due to the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam in which 25 tourists and a local were killed, Jammu & Kashmir chief minister
said on Wednesday during a personal visit to Aligarh.
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Abdullah, who drove himself to Aftab Manzil in Shamshad Market to meet the family of his late friend Sajid Khan, said, "No one can deny that tourism has suffered, but we are trying our best to restore normalcy.
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On ongoing development in the region, Abdullah said, "Whatever development has taken place is less, because the kind of war we are fighting there, the way our neighbouring country is trying everything to worsen the situation, more efforts will be made that maximum development will take place in Jammu and Kashmir."
He added, "It is good, it is world's highest bridge we have in Kashmir," referring to the Chenab Rail Bridge, one of the infrastructure projects being used by the govt to help revive the region's economy and boost connectivity.
The Centre and J&K administration are also focusing on infrastructure development and security arrangements for the upcoming
to help rebuild confidence in the region's tourism potential.
"This is my first visit to Aligarh. I came here to pay tribute to my late friend Sajid Khan and meet his family. Although I've received invitations from AMU several times in the past, this is the first time I've been able to come. Sadly, I don't have any personal ties with the university," Abdullah said.
He kept the visit low-profile and spent time with Sajid Khan's family, offering condolences and joining them in reciting the Fatiha at the grave.
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He also visited the Blind School at Aligarh Muslim University, where he interacted with teachers and students and enquired about their education and well-being.
In the aftermath of the attack, the tourism sector in Kashmir ground to a halt. Hotels and guest houses reported mass cancellations. One Pahalgam hotel alone refunded over Rs 1.3 lakh in bookings. Daily arrivals at Srinagar airport dropped sharply, with flights reduced from 92 to about 50.
Airlines such as IndiGo, SpiceJet and Air India urged the Centre to waive airport user charges to help revive demand.
Occupancy rates fell near zero, prompting hoteliers to seek relief on loan interest and electricity bills. Authorities and industry groups have appealed for wider financial support, including subsidies for the hospitality sector. Meanwhile, tourism experts launched safety inspections across key sites to rebuild visitor confidence.
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