Kashmir calling: Why Omar Abdullah went cycling, cable-car riding
(NOTE: This article was originally published in the India Today issue dated June 16, 2025)It took years of efforts.The Centre's push for better infrastructure, incentives to local industry and the sedulous dissemination of a feelgood narrative, helped by a dip in terrorism—it was an entire conspiracy of virtues that revived Jammu and Kashmir as a tourism hub. The Pahalgam terror attack ripped apart that patchwork quilt woven since 2019. The urgent question now is, how to revive that revival?advertisement
It's an unenviable task. As scared tourists stay away, summer hotel bookings are mostly cancelled, and large-scale layoffs in the hospitality sector are spreading misery. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has clearly deemed the situation grim enough to lead a full counter-charge, but he is seeking to do it with a touch of sunshine.On May 27, he chose to hold a cabinet meeting right there on ground zero: Pahalgam. In the evening, he went on a cycle ride through its streets with sons Zahir and Zamir. Next day, cabinet in tow, the CM visited ski-resort Gulmarg, then took a cable car ride before the cameras. After Eid on June 7, the government will organise a Walkathon around Dal Lake in Srinagar and a water sports event on the lake.advertisement
A record 3.5 million tourists visited J&K in 2024; the sector adds 7 per cent to its GDP. Enthused locals, who invested in hotels and homestays, are unable to repay loans. The J&K government has petitioned the Centre to help these stakeholders.Home minister Amit Shah, too,visited J&K on May 29-31. Agenda: to secure the Amarnath yatra that begins on July 3. A 50,000-strong detail will guard the routes to the cave, via Pahalgam and Ganderbal. There's zero tolerance for error.Subscribe to India Today MagazineMust Watch
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