Now Reading: Kashmir tourism split: new winter spots pushed, old ones still closed
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Kashmir tourism split: new winter spots pushed, old ones still closed
The Story in Brief
As Kashmir’s winter tourism season approaches, stakeholders are calling for developing lesser-known destinations such as Doodhpathri, Yusmarg, Gurez, Uri, Drung and Peer Ki Gali to ease overcrowding at Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg. The Travel Agents Association of Kashmir, the Jammu and Kashmir Hoteliers Club and the Adventure Tour Operators Association of Kashmir have urged the government to invest in road connectivity, accommodation and winter activities. Joint Director Tourism Kashmir Waseem Raja said the department is working to identify untapped locations and reduce the rush at Gulmarg.
At the same time, nearly two dozen tourist destinations and trekking routes in Kashmir remain closed 18 months after the Pahalgam terror attack of 22 April 2025, in which 26 people were killed. BusinessLine reports that closed sites include Baisaran, Aharbal, Sinthon Top and the Great Lakes Trek. On 19 February, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah told the Assembly all closed destinations would be reopened by May 2026, but the deadline has passed. An official said some offbeat spots remain closed pending a security review.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Rising Kashmir frames the story around the positive push to diversify winter tourism, quoting tourism bodies and a filmmaker who call for infrastructure and eco-friendly development, it does not mention the Pahalgam attack or the closures. BusinessLine leads with the economic distress of vendors and guides who have lost income for a second season because destinations remain shut after the attack, and notes that a government deadline of May 2026 was missed. The two outlets cover complementary halves of the same tourism picture: one looks ahead to expansion, the other reports ongoing hardship. Together they show that while the tourism department is planning for new spots, existing closures have already cost workers two seasons.
The key open point is the unresolved security review for the remaining closed destinations, which the official says is the condition for reopening.
Coverage: 2 sources, 1 government-critical, 1 neutral
Sources (2): risingkashmir.com (neutral report), thehindubusinessline.com (government critical)
This brief was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above, so one read covers every framing they carry. Methodology and corrections.
