The Quiet, Deserted Meadows of Kashmir

Context

• After the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, 48 tourist destinations in Kashmir Valley were shut.

• Only 28 destinations reopened; several key off-beat destinations like Doodhpathri, Yusmarg, Aharbal, Tosamaidan remain closed.

• Prolonged closures are impacting livelihoods, tourism recovery, women’s empowerment, and regional economy.

Tourism in Kashmir: Key Facts

• Record tourism in 2024: ~26 lakh visitors

• Doodhpathri tourists:

  • 2011: < 50,000

  • 2024: ~18 lakh

  • 2025 (first 4 months): ~1.25 lakh

• Overall dip in 2025:

  • 7.53 lakh tourists in first 6 months

  • 52% decline compared to 2024

Impact of Prolonged Closure

1. Livelihood Crisis

• 80% families in villages like Raiyar depend on tourism.

• Affected groups:

  • Tea stall owners

  • Horse owners & guides

  • Taxi operators

  • ATV operators

  • Hotel & guest house staff

• Rising loan defaults, unpaid EMIs, distress sale of land.

2. Women’s Empowerment Setback

• Tourism enabled first-time economic independence for rural Kashmiri women.

• Women ran:

  • Tea stalls

  • Kehwa & local food outlets

• Closure has:

  • Reduced income autonomy

  • Reversed social gains

  • Increased household vulnerability

➡️ Tourism acted as a tool of gender empowerment.

3. Youth & Employment Distress

• Youth invested via loans in:

  • ATVs

  • Guest houses

  • Transport services

• High anxiety, depression, job insecurity.

• Retrenchment of 40–50% hotel staff in Pahalgam.

4. Impact on Off-Beat & Adventure Tourism

• Closure of trekking bases like Aru, Aharbal, Yusmarg.

• Foreign tourists particularly affected.

• Undermines:

  • Long-stay tourism

  • Film tourism

  • Adventure & eco-tourism

Governance & Security Dimension

Administrative Stand-off

• Lieutenant Governor’s administration: cites ongoing security audits.

• Elected J&K government (CM Omar Abdullah):

  • Opposes prolonged closures

  • Argues closures send wrong signals on normalcy

  • Notes that even during peak militancy (1990s), destinations remained open.

Issues Highlighted

• Security vs Livelihood trade-off

• Centralised decision-making vs local economic realities

• Democratic accountability under UT governance model

Economic Implications

• Tourism is a backbone sector for Kashmir:

  • No large-scale manufacturing

  • Limited agriculture in towns like Pahalgam

• Reduced tourist itineraries → shorter stays → lower spending.

• Government revenue loss:

  • Parking & ticketing tenders unpaid

  • Film permissions stalled

Social Consequences

• Erosion of:

  • Trust of foreign tourists

  • Confidence of local entrepreneurs

• Increased:

  • Informal employment

  • Economic precarity

  • Social stress during winter months

Policy & Governance Lessons

• Need for:

  • Targeted, intelligence-based security measures

  • Phased reopening with local consultation

• Importance of:

  • Diversifying rural livelihoods

  • Insurance/credit safety nets for tourism workers

• Tourism must be treated as:

  • Development + peace-building instrument

Way Forward 

• Balance security imperatives with economic sustainability

• Time-bound security audits with transparency

• Compensation/relief packages for affected stakeholders

• Promote:

  • Community-based tourism

  • Women-led enterprises

  • Off-beat destinations for inclusive growth

• Restore confidence through:

  • Policy predictability

  • Coordination between LG & elected government

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