Union Minister for Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Monday said tourism in Kashmir is showing clear signs of revival following the recent terror incident in Pahalgam, crediting the coordinated efforts of the Jammu & Kashmir administration and the Central Government for building public confidence.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Tourism Conclave in Srinagar, Minister Gajendra Singh said that renewed efforts by the Jammu and Kashmir government and coordinated support from the Centre are helping restore confidence among travellers and stakeholders.
“After the Pahalgam incident, tourism had slowed down, but it is now reviving. The way the UT administration has taken the lead, along with central government delegations and ministerial visits, is part of a strong confidence-building exercise,” he said, as per the news agency JKNS. “This will undoubtedly bear fruit and bring Kashmir’s tourism back to its previous momentum.”
Recalling his earlier visit in June, the Union Minister said he had delivered a clear message across Kashmir that the region is safe and the recent incident should not hold people back. “We all must move forward and revive Kashmir’s tourism sector, which has been growing steadily for the last three years,” he said.
He further said that the conclave was organised to bring tourism secretaries from across the country to Kashmir with two major objectives. “First, to enable these officials to carry the message of safety and revival back to their respective states, helping boost domestic tourism; and second, to work towards the Prime Minister’s vision of developing at least 50 iconic destinations across India of global standards.”The Minister said the conclave aimed at brainstorming innovative ideas and exchanging experiences among tourism professionals to enhance the end-to-end experience for visitors. “It’s important that we work with new thinking, learn from one another, and explore how to improve infrastructure, services, and hospitality standards in Kashmir and beyond,” he added.