J&K tourism dipped in 2025 following Pahalgam terror attack, Op Sindoor

The footfall of tourists in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir was drastically affected following the heinous Pahalgam terror attack and the subsequent Operation Sindoor in 2025.

According to data shared by the government in the Legislative Assembly, 23,590,081 tourists visited Jammu and Kashmir in 2024. However, this number declined to 17,765,390 in 2025, when Operation Sindoor was conducted in May following the Pahalgam terror attackin April. As many as 5,824,691 fewer tourists visited Jammu and Kashmir in 2025 compared to 2024.

In 2023, a total of 21,18,001 tourists, including 55,337 foreign visitors, visited Jammu and Kashmir. This number increased to 23,590,081, including 65,452 foreigners, in 2024. However, in 2025, the number of tourists dropped to 17,765,390—a decline of 5,824,691 compared to the previous year. The number of foreign tourists also fell to 36,141 in 2025 from 65,452 in 2024.

The government stated that several major events and festivals were organised to showcase the region's cultural heritage, natural beauty, adventure tourism, and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) potential. These included tourism dialogues, golf tournaments, conferences, marathons, conventions, New Year celebrations, and a winter carnival at key destinations such asSrinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonamarg, Patnitop, and Bhaderwah.

Furthermore, the Tourism Department participated in prominent international travel marts in Paris, Singapore, London, and Madrid, as well as domestic events in Jaipur, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Puri, Pune, Hyderabad, and Kochi, facilitating strong destination branding, stakeholder interactions, and promotion of niche tourism products.

Tourist destinations reopened months after Pahalgam attack

Months after the Pahalgam terror attack, the Jammu and Kashmir government ordered the phased reopening of major tourist destinations.

Following the April 22, 2025 terror attack in Pahalgam, in which 26 unarmed civilians were killed—most of them tourists—the administration had temporarily closed 48 tourist destinations, particularly in high-altitude areas. These restrictions, imposed for security audits, significantly impacted local livelihoods and led to a phased reopening process.

As of February 16 this year, 14 additional sites had been reopened, taking the total to 34, with all destinations expected to reopen by May 2026.

The latest reopening has increased the number of operational sites to 42 out of the 48 destinations that were closed as a precautionary measure. Among the prominent destinations now reopened for visitors are Doodhpathri, Kokernag, Pir Ki Gali, and Srinagar's famous Tulip Garden, which is recognised as the largest of its kind in Asia.