- By Aditya Jha
- Wed, 22 Apr 2026 08:16 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Pahalgam Attack Anniversary: A year after the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 tourists were brutally killed, the tourism sector of Jammu and Kashmir is still recovering from the scar. The northern state has witnessed a surge in tourists in the past few months; however, it is still far behind normal. The locals, especially those dependent on the sector, had to face difficulties due to fewer visitors. However, several steps have been taken by the administration to ensure safety for the tourists in the valley districts.
While around 1.5 million tourists visited before the infamous terror attack, only 4.5 lakh domestic visitors toured Pahalgam between May 2025 and April 2026, a fall of around 70 per cent. One of the biggest reasons behind the low turnout is restrictions on some of the prominent sites of the city. The administration has ordered the tourists to not visit Baisaran Valley, also known as "Mini Switzerland".
The locals stated that the previous few months have been tough for the businessmen; however, they also stated that there has been a surge of tourists in the religious sites. "Tours to Sonamarg and Pahalgam are being booked again. Last year was tough for every one of us, but the circuit has started moving again. However, for most people, the business has been affected in way that’ll take long to recover, it seems," a local businessman was quoted as saying by News18.
The locals also asserted that the spiritual tourism has significantly improved in the last three to four months, showing positive signs. The J&K administration has mandated a QR code-based identification system for hotel staff, ponywala, hawker, and vendor to establish trust. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has assured that all the sites of the district will be open by the May end.