The Jammu and Kashmir tourism industry is gradually recovering after the devastating Pahalgam attack on April 22, 2025, which killed 26 civilians, mostly tourists, just as the season was picking up.
The Kashmir Valley witnessed a record number of tourists in 2024, receiving 34.99 lakh visitors, including 34.55 lakh domestic and 43,654 foreign tourists, making it a landmark year for tourism in the region. The Valley was expecting another strong season in 2025, with encouraging arrivals during spring. However, the Pahalgam attack severely dented tourist confidence and disrupted the momentum.
A large section of the local population depends on tourism for their livelihood, with the sector contributing nearly 7–10 per cent to the Union Territory’s GDP.
According to estimates, tourist arrivals dropped sharply to 11.16 lakh visitors (10.93 lakh domestic and 22,993 foreign) in the period following the attack — roughly one-third of the 2024 figures. Before the attack, Kashmir had already received 6.4 lakh visitors in the first four months of 2025.
The downward trend continued into the first quarter of 2026, with arrivals declining by around 30 per cent due to security concerns and closure of several destinations. However, the latest trends indicate a positive turnaround, with the Valley recording over 12.5 lakh visitors in recent months.
The famous Tulip Garden in Srinagar also saw improved footfall after a slow start, though it registered only half the numbers compared to the previous year. In 2025, Jammu and Kashmir received a total of 17.8 million tourists, including around 36,000 foreigners, with the Kashmir Valley bearing the maximum impact of the decline.
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