Gulmarg, September 18, 2025 : Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday voiced strong displeasure with tourism stakeholders, accusing them of failing to support his government’s promotional initiatives and remaining silent amid political criticism.
Speaking at a closed-door meeting with travel agents after inaugurating the new state-of-the-art convention centre in Gulmarg, Abdullah stressed that despite launching several tourism-friendly programmes—including a cycling festival in Pahalgam—he felt abandoned by industry voices when opposition parties attacked his government’s policies.
The CM, who also holds the tourism portfolio, underlined that lease agreements of hotels across major tourist hubs—Srinagar, Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Pahalgam, Katra, and Jammu—would soon be reviewed. He also expressed concern over “selective leaks” of official orders that he said were being misused by the opposition.
On the issue of his alleged Paris visit, Abdullah asked why stakeholders had not defended the government, clarifying that the trip was meant for tourism promotion and was attended by officials and travel associations—not him or his advisor Nasir Aslam Wani.
Abdullah warned that without unity between public and private stakeholders, tourism—J&K’s economic lifeline—would not regain its lost vibrancy.
