Jammu, Mar 7 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday announced that Rs 390.20 crore has been allocated to strengthen the tourism sector under capital expenditure for 2025-26, which is an increase of Rs 121.77 crore over the revised allocation for 2024-25.
“To further strengthen the tourism sector, our Government has allocated Rs390.20 crore under capital expenditure for 2025-26, an increase of Rs 121.77 crore over the revised allocation for 2024-25,” Abdullah said while presenting the first budget of his government of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir here in the Legislative Assembly.
This enhanced investment will drive infrastructure development, sustainability initiatives, and new tourism projects, reinforcing Jammu and Kashmir’s position as a leading global destination, said Abdullah.
He stated that tourism is deeply ingrained in the culture and economy of Jammu and Kashmir, adding, “In 2024, we achieved a record 2.36 crore tourist visits, reaffirming J&K as a premier destination.”
The Gulmarg Gondola alone attracted 7.68 lakh visitors, while the Kashmir Marathon in October 2024, with 1,800 global participants, placed J&K on the international marathon map, he stated.
Additionally, he said that offbeat destinations like Shiv Khori, Mansar-Surinsar, Patnitop, Doodhpathri, and Lolab are gaining popularity and the revival of border tourism in regions like Gurez, Keran, Karnah, and Suchetgarh is not only expanding tourism footprint but also driving local economic growth.
“The tourism sector, granted industry status, has seen strong growth. Our Government will develop new master plans for key destinations like Gulmarg, Pahalgam, and Sonamarg, while enhancing infrastructure and amenities in new tourism hubs,” he said.
“Under the Home Stay Policy, our Government will expand the number of registered homestays, aiming to increase quality accommodation options and generate more livelihoods. We will focus on promoting this model in rural and offbeat areas to enhance tourism while ensuring sustainability and community involvement,” said the Chief Minister, who holds the finance department portfolio.
“To promote sustainable tourism, our Government is vigorously pursuing multilateral and central funding through the SPREAD (Sustainable Promotion of Emerging Alternate Destination) initiative. This will help develop world-class alternative destinations across J&K, reducing the strain on heavily visited locations,” he said and added that with the Government of India's support, the initial planning phase is in progress to ensure long-term growth and broader tourism benefits.
“Recognizing the immense potential of Jammu and Kashmir’s water bodies, we are prioritizing water sports promotion, including kayaking, canoeing, and paddle boating. Tourism assets at Manasbal are being enhanced, and jet skiing, speed boating, and houseboats are being developed at Ranjit Sagar Lake,” he said.
“Our winter sports infrastructure has seen significant upgrades, with drag lifts operational in Sonamarg and Gulmarg. With the inauguration of the Z-Morh Tunnel, Sonamarg has become an all-weather destination, unlocking its potential for international-standard skiing and ice-skating facilities,” he said and added, “I envision Sonamarg as a future hub for winter games, alongside Gulmarg, strengthening J&K’s position as a leading winter sports destination.”
“Our Government recognizes the need to expand tourism in the Jammu region and is committed to its transformation into a premier destination. A state-of-the-art water park at Dwara Village near Sidhra Golf Course under the PPP model will be developed by our Government. Jambu Zoo is being expanded with new species and exotic birds,” said Abdullah.
Basohli is emerging as an adventure tourism hub, while a vertical lift will soon connect Peerkho to the historic Mubarak Mandi Complex, said Abdullah adding that additionally, a proposal for a Convention Centre near Sidhra Golf Course is being explored under PPP mode.
“Our Government remains dedicated to strengthening infrastructure and positioning Jammu as a key hub for pilgrim, cultural, adventure, and heritage tourism,” he said.
Abdullah said that Jammu and Kashmir is also re-emerging as a prime filmmaking destination, attracting global producers. To further boost film production his Government will operationalize the Film Policy, making J&K a preferred shooting location.
However, waste management remains a critical challenge at tourist sites, particularly plastic waste accumulation, adding, “to address this, our Government will formulate an Eco-Tourism Policy to establish J&K as a world-class sustainable tourism destination, ensuring environmental conservation alongside economic growth.”
“To further strengthen the Tourism and Hospitality sector, I propose to constitute a multi-stakeholder Advisory Committee to address key issues and recommend policy measures. Our goal is to increase tourism’s contribution to GSDP from 7 percent to at least 15 percent over the next 4 to 5 years,” said the Chief Minister.
He said, “Jammu and Kashmir is on a transformational journey to becoming a global tourism powerhouse, blending sustainability with economic prosperity.”
UNI VBH BD