SRINAGAR, October 14, 2025 : Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday acknowledged that reviving Jammu and Kashmir’s tourism sector has been an uphill task, but expressed optimism that an expected heavy snowfall this winter could help rejuvenate the state’s economy.
Speaking at a tourism industry event in Srinagar, Omar said the region has witnessed a clear economic slowdown since mid-April, affecting government spending capacity and key sectors such as manufacturing, tourism, handicrafts, handlooms, agriculture, and horticulture—the latter two hit hard by recent floods.
“Our internal assessment shows that due to recent changes in GST rates, we could see a shortfall of nearly ₹900 to ₹1,000 crore in GST earnings this year. For a financially stressed state, that’s a significant blow,” he said.
However, the Chief Minister stressed that the situation was not one of pessimism but of determination and forward focus.
Omar admitted that while summer was a “completely lost season,” even autumn tourism failed to meet expectations, particularly from eastern states like West Bengal and Punjab that usually send large tourist groups.
“This has not been an easy journey. We had hoped for a quicker revival, but challenges like the Pahalgam terror attack, India-Pakistan border tensions, and heavy rains and flash floods during July to September disrupted our plans,” he said.
Highlighting efforts to revive interest in J&K as a tourist destination, Omar said the government is actively promoting tourism in Southeast Asia, with delegations visiting Singapore, and is simultaneously pushing campaigns across major Indian cities — Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Kolkata, and Ahmedabad.
“Our next hope lies in the coming winter season. If predictions of heavy snowfall hold true, we aim to rebuild our tourism industry around snow-based attractions in Jammu and Kashmir,” Omar added, calling on industry stakeholders to remain united and proactive in the state’s recovery journey.
