Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has assured the Valley’s tourism stakeholders that he will press Union Home Minister Amit Shah to reopen several tourist destinations sealed in the aftermath of the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack, which left 26 people dead, most of them visitors.
Speaking at the Travel Agents Association of Kashmir (TAAK) convention at the Gulmarg Convention Centre, Abdullah said that blanket closures of major attractions were severely undermining tourism in the region. “On one hand, we promote tourism, but on the other, many destinations remain closed. This is one of the biggest challenges in our difficult circumstances. When half of Kashmir is shut for tourism, promotion becomes meaningless,” he remarked.
The Chief Minister highlighted inconsistencies in current restrictions, questioning why certain destinations remained open while others were sealed. “What do we tell the tourists—that you can ride the gondola but the ATV grounds are closed? That you can go to Tangmarg but not Drung, or that you can come to Pahalgam but not visit Aru and Betab Valley?” he asked.
Abdullah stressed that such sweeping closures were unprecedented, even during the Valley’s most turbulent years. “I assure you I will speak to the home minister and request him to open these destinations. This will build confidence and help us attract more tourists,” he said, adding that continued closures only fuel negative perceptions of Kashmir.
The timing of his assurance comes amid heightened scrutiny of tourism policies, particularly after the government sealed Srinagar’s historic Nedous Hotel last month, a property associated with Abdullah’s grandmother. Referring to that controversy with a touch of irony, Abdullah recalled his childhood love of Gulmarg and said he once considered acquiring a hut there but abandoned the idea. “Thankfully, it never happened. People are already defaming us, claiming we have usurped Gulmarg. If I had actually constructed something here for myself, by now I would have been hanged many times,” he said jokingly.
Tourism stakeholders welcomed Abdullah’s assurance, expressing hope that New Delhi would act swiftly to restore access to key destinations such as Aru, Betab Valley, and Drung—sites considered vital to the livelihoods of thousands dependent on Kashmir’s tourism economy.
