Raja Syed Rather
Over the last decade, more than 15.3 crore tourists have visited Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), according to a report presented by the Department-Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs in the Rajya Sabha earlier this week.
The report details the number of tourist visits (in crores) to J&K over the last ten years, comparing periods before and after August 5, 2019. From 2015 to 2019, tourism showed a fluctuating but generally upward trend, starting at 1.33 crore visits in 2015 and peaking at 1.69 crore in 2018. This was followed by a slight dip to 1.62 crore in 2019. However, the COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted tourism in 2020, with visits plummeting to 0.35 crore.
A partial recovery was observed in 2021 with 1.13 crore visits, and by 2022, tourism had rebounded strongly, reaching 1.89 crore. The upward trajectory continued into 2023 and 2024, with 2.12 crore and 2.36 crore visits, respectively.
The report also highlights the introduction of the Home Stay Policy 2022 by the Jammu and Kashmir government, which allows residential houses to be converted into homestays. This policy provides an alternative source of income and employment opportunities for both rural and urban families. Currently, 2,302 homestays/PGHs are registered across J&K.
The report emphasises the government’s focus on skill development programmes, which aim to train locals in tourism-related services like hospitality, guiding, and management. Jammu and Kashmir is also renowned for adventure tourism activities, including trekking, skiing, river rafting, and mountain biking. These activities have created employment opportunities for local guides, instructors, and adventure operators.
In addition, entrepreneurship development has been encouraged through skill development training in various crafts at departmental centres and prestigious institutions.
Notable achievements in J&K include 4.22 lakh registered artisans,7,535 registered cooperative societies; J&K emerging as the No. 1 Union Territory of India in export rankings for 2022; the 60th Jubilee celebration of the World Craft Council (WCC) held in Srinagar and Delhi; Srinagar becoming the second city in India to be recognised as a ‘World Crafts City’ by the World Craft Council (WCC) and included in UNESCO’s Creative City Network for Crafts and Folk Arts; Handloom and handicraft exports doubling between 2021-22 and 2023-24, and the introduction of a Credit Card Scheme for artisans and weavers.
The committee expressed satisfaction with the increase in tourist arrivals over the last two years and acknowledged the significant steps taken to develop and promote tourism in J&K. The report highlights that the tourism and hospitality sector not only generates substantial revenue but is also a major source of livelihood, creating employment opportunities and boosting local businesses. It contributes significantly to regional and rural development.
The committee recommends that the UT administration develop a comprehensive roadmap to position J&K as a world-class tourism destination, enhance the tourist experience, and create sustainable economic opportunities for the local population.
