Time to Reopen Tourist Destinations, Will Take Up With Amit Shah: Omar Abdullah

Chief minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday indicated that the tourist attractions that had been closed down in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack that happened on April 22 last year should be re-opened and he would bring up the issue with home minister Amit Shah.

In reaction to the questions of various lawmakers on the need to promote tourism in the state, Abdullah responded by saying, it was time to reopen tourist destinations that had previously been closed in the Kashmir.

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“It is a fact that some tourist places were closed. The time has now come to reopen them,” he added.

“In this context discussions are already underway with the Centre and I assure the House that the matter will be taken up with the Union Home Minister, who is visiting Jammu,” he said.

Abdullah also notified the House that the government was in the process of revision and streamlining of the registration and renewal processes of the tourism related establishments in Jammu and Kashmir.

According to him, registration and renewal of guest houses, hotels, homestays, travel agencies, adventure tour operators and other units dealing with tourism are also done online.

Indicating that the current regulations to tourism unit registration were formulated in 1978, the CM made it clear that the Tourism Department is revising the Jammu and Kashmir Tourist Trade Rules in order to further simplify, rationalize and streamline the entire framework.

“The proposed revisions aim to make the process more transparent, user-friendly and strictly time-bound, thereby reducing procedural delays and improving ease of doing business in the tourism sector,” he said.

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Abdullah also comment that the government was looking into a proposal of development of new tourism worthy areas in some of the locations of Ramban district.

He told that the proposal in consideration comprises of places like Godagali, Nathatop, Daggan Top, Neel Top, Mahoo, Sarvadhar (Pogal Paristan), Sargali Pogal, Chanderkote and Bhatni Village.

“For the financial year 2025–26, an amount of ₹117.27 lakh has been allocated under the Capex Budget for the development of tourism infrastructure in Banihal-Gool constituency,” he added.

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