Amritsar,: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday said the tourism sector in the Union Territory has begun to show signs of revival following recent snowfall, after facing a challenging year marked by multiple setbacks.
Speaking to the media, the Chief Minister said last year was particularly difficult for tourism in Jammu and Kashmir, as the sector suffered just when it was beginning to recover. “Last year was difficult for us. When tourism started reviving, the Delhi bomb blast proved to be another setback and affected tourist arrivals,” he said.
However, Abdullah noted that the onset of snowfall in Kashmir has led to an increase in tourist footfall. “Since snowfall has begun, tourism in Kashmir has increased,” he said, adding that the government will continue to promote tourism but will not release official data at this stage. “We will continue to promote tourism, but the numbers and our success ratio will remain with us,” he said.
Highlighting domestic tourism trends, the Chief Minister said Gujarat, Maharashtra and West Bengal continue to be the major source markets for tourists visiting Jammu and Kashmir. He added that while efforts are underway to revive tourism from these states, the desired results are yet to be fully achieved. “We are trying our best. I cannot say we have succeeded, but tourism appears to be gradually reviving since snowfall,” he said.
During the same interaction, Abdullah expressed support for the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, stating that the decades-old agreement had been detrimental to the interests of Jammu and Kashmir. Reiterating his long-standing opposition to the treaty, he said its suspension would enable the region to utilise its water resources more effectively.
“I have been against it from the very first day. The Indus Waters Treaty has greatly harmed us. It is good that the treaty has been suspended,” the Chief Minister said.
He stressed that the decision must now be followed by concrete measures to ensure optimal use of water resources for the benefit of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Abdullah said the government has submitted two project proposals to the Centre, including the Jhelum Navigation Barrage, also known as the Tulbul Navigation Barrage.
Explaining the benefits of the project, he said it would increase water levels in Wular Lake and the Jhelum river, boost electricity generation and enable navigation on the Jhelum. He added that the administration remains in continuous communication with the Centre regarding these proposals.