Jammu and Kashmir have witnessed a significant influx of domestic tourists during the first half of 2025, with figures exceeding 95 lakh. This data was shared by the government in response to concerns about a potential decline in tourism following a recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam.
Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat provided the data in a written response to a query regarding the impact of the Pahalgam attack on tourist footfall and business losses in the region. AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi also inquired whether the government had assessed the economic impact on local tourism stakeholders. The Ministry of Tourism has not conducted a specific assessment of the economic impact of the attack on tourism-dependent businesses.
The data reveals the following trends in domestic tourist visits (DTVs) to Jammu and Kashmir over the past few years:
In comparison, the figures for foreign tourist visits (FTVs) during the same period are:
The Ministry of Tourism has undertaken several initiatives to promote tourism in Jammu and Kashmir, as well as the rest of India. These initiatives include the "Swadesh Darshan" and "National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)" schemes, which provide financial assistance for infrastructure development at various tourist destinations. The ministry also promotes tourism destinations and products through campaigns and events like the "Dekho Apna Desh" and "Chalo India" campaigns, as well as the "International Tourism Mart" and "Bharat Parv". The "Incredible India Content Hub" serves as a digital repository of images, films, brochures, and newsletters related to Indian tourism. The Ministry promotes various types of tourism including wellness, culinary, rural and eco-tourism. They are also working to improve the quality of tourism by building capacity and skills though programs such as "Capacity Building for Service Providers", "Incredible India Tourist Facilitator", "Paryatan Mitra" and "Paryatan Didi".
Despite security concerns, domestic tourism in Jammu and Kashmir has shown resilience. The government continues to support tourism efforts in the region through various promotional activities and infrastructure development projects.
