WAJAHAT SHABIR
SRINAGAR: Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Monday expressed confidence in the strong revival of tourism in Jammu and Kashmir, stating that the region is recovering from a brief disruption caused by the recent terror attack in Pahalgam.
Addressing reporters in Srinagar, Shekhawat said, “Following the incident in Pahalgam, tourism had nearly come to a halt. But the way it has revived now, it feels as if life itself has returned to the Valley.”
He credited the coordinated efforts of the Central Government and the Jammu and Kashmir administration for the turnaround. “From ministerial visits to inter-departmental coordination and confidence-building measures, every step is contributing to this resurgence. I’m confident that Kashmir’s tourism will soon reclaim its earlier glory,” he added.
Reflecting on his visit to the Valley in June, Shekhawat said he had travelled extensively across Kashmir, urging locals and stakeholders to move forward with hope. “We must leave the past behind and work towards a brighter future for tourism here. Over the past three years, we’ve already seen encouraging growth,” he said.
The Union Minister is in Srinagar to attend a two-day national tourism conference that has brought together tourism secretaries from across the country. The conference, he said, aims to foster collaboration, share best practices, and align with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of developing 50 globally recognized tourist destinations in India.
“This conference has two key objectives — first, we want tourism secretaries to carry this positive message of Kashmir’s revival back to their respective states and boost domestic travel; and second, we’re working towards building iconic, global-standard destinations across the country,” Shekhawat said.
As part of the conference, delegates have been divided into five groups to brainstorm new ideas, share experiences, and develop actionable plans to enhance the overall tourist experience — from arrival to departure. “The focus is on providing a seamless and high-quality journey for every visitor,” the minister said.
