Omar Abdullah cycles on Pahalgam streets, upbeat about tourism revival

In a show of resilience, Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday cycled on the streets of Pahalgam, alongside his two sons Zamir and Zahir, and interacted with people, assuring them of a revival of tourism. This outing comes just over a month after the terrorist attack that claimed the lives of 26 people, mostly tourists, in the hill resort.

The family's cycling tour, spanning 2.5 km from a hotel to the base camp for the upcoming annual Amarnath Yatra, followed a special cabinet meeting led by Abdullah. The event aimed to convey a clear message that the government will not be cowed by such acts of terrorism.

The 38-day Amarnath Yatra, which leads to the 3,880m holy cave housing a naturally formed ice shivlingam, is set to commence on 3 July. Pilgrims can choose between the traditional 48-km route from Pahalgam in Anantnag district or the shorter but steeper 14-km Baltal route in Ganderbal district.

Following the deadly 22 April attack, the tourism sector in Kashmir has faced significant challenges, with Pahalgam experiencing a drastic decline in visitors.

However, Abdullah's cycling initiative has garnered positive attention from local tourism stakeholders, who viewed it as a vital step towards rebuilding confidence among potential tourists.

"This is a welcome gesture from the Abdullah family, and we are hopeful that the chief minister's efforts will contribute to the revival of tourism in the valley," said Amir, a local hotelier.

He noted that the recent attack had cast a shadow over the region, leading to mass cancellations by prospective visitors. "Despite the difficulties, we remain optimistic about a resurgence in tourism in Pahalgam and beyond in the coming months," he added.

During the cycling trip, the chief minister also made several stops and interacted with the locals as well as a few tourists at the hill resort, besides posing for a selfie.

Earlier in the day, Abdullah convened a special cabinet meeting in Pahalgam, a gesture aimed at projecting defiance against terror and a steadfast commitment to the region's development.

In his first press conference since the 22 April terror attack in Baisaran meadows, Abdullah said tourism should be "conflict-neutral" and not serve as a gauge for normalcy.

The choice of Pahalgam for the cabinet meeting aims to show solidarity with residents of the tourist town, which has experienced a sharp decline in tourist footfall since the devastating terror attack.

Abdullah also focused on the complex governance structure in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in the context of security and tourism revival and said, "There is a strange system in JK as tourism is my responsibility, but security is not my responsibility. Three governments will have to work together here — the elected government of JK (Abdullah's government), the un-elected government (Lt Governor's administration) in JK, and the Centre."

This statement sheds light on the unique political dynamics of the region, where the directly elected state government operates alongside Centrally appointed administrative structures. Abdullah has been critical of the dual power system of governance.

Abdullah highlighted the crucial role of the Centre in supporting JK's tourism sector, noting recent high-level discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said, "How can you revive tourism without giving a sense of security to the people?"

Asked whether the prime minister will be helping in the revival of tourism, Abdullah said, "The prime minister has made some strides as well. He chaired a meeting on how to revive tourism in JK a few days back. Two days back, there was a meeting of the NITI Aayog in Delhi and I got an opportunity to talk to him and we discussed the way to restore tourism in JK. While I cannot share the details here, some concrete steps will be taken by the Centre on that," he said.

The chief minister opened by expressing profound gratitude to the people of Kashmir, particularly those in Pahalgam, for their unified condemnation of the recent terror strike. "I want to thank the people of Kashmir, especially those of Pahalgam, who condemned and stood in one voice against the 22 April terror strike on tourists. For this, I thank them and salute them," he stated.

Responding to concerns about the closure of tourist destinations post-attack, the chief minister indicated a cautious, phased reopening. "The last five to six weeks have been a difficult time for the country, especially for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. So I would suggest we conduct a security audit of various tourist destinations and gradually start opening them."

He specifically mentioned closed sites like Aru and Betaab valleys in Pahalgam, Thajwas glacier in Sonmarg, and even Badamwari and Tulip Garden in Srinagar. "If we have to close Tulip Garden, then we have to shut the whole of Kashmir. I think we have to show some courage and reopen these destinations slowly. The time has come to review the list."

Abdullah also detailed the ongoing discussions with the Centre regarding financial relief for tourism stakeholders burdened by loans. He said his concern extends from large hotel owners to small businesses like homestay operators and taxi drivers who have invested significantly.

"My concern stretches across the various facets of our tourism industry and this conversation has already started with the Centre," he said, indicating active engagement at the central level.

The chief minister also stressed the importance of proactive outreach in promoting Jammu and Kashmir as a safe destination. "We are exploring actively how best we can participate in the upcoming travel fairs like the TTF in Kolkata and Hyderabad," he said, aiming to "take our message that JK wants to be open for business again to these markets".

The Amarnath Yatra was also discussed during the press briefing with Abdullah expressing the government's commitment to its safe and successful conclusion.

Acknowledging potential impacts on some destinations, he emphasised that other areas like Srinagar, Gulmarg and Yousmarg remain "open for business," asserting that "the yatra and tourism revival can go hand in hand".

After the special cabinet meeting, the chief minister's office posted on X pictures of the meeting held at the Pahalgam Club, saying it was not just a routine administrative exercise, but a clear message — "we are not intimidated by cowardly acts of terror. The enemies of peace will never dictate our resolve. Jammu & Kashmir stands firm, strong, and unafraid."

This is the first time the cabinet meeting took place outside the usual summer capital, Srinagar, or winter capital, Jammu, during Abdullah's government's tenure.

Abdullah, during his first stint as chief minister of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir from 2009-14, had held cabinet meetings in remote areas like Gurez, Machil, and Tangdhar areas of north Kashmir and Rajouri and Poonch areas of Jammu region.

Last week, Abdullah made this appeal at the governing council meeting of the NITI Aayog under the chairmanship of the prime minister.

The chief minister believes that these concerted efforts by the government will significantly alleviate public fears, foster a renewed sense of security and trust, and ultimately pave the way for the revival of tourism in the Kashmir valley, bringing much-needed economic relief and a return to normalcy.

A special day-long assembly session was also held in Jammu on 28 April, which unanimously passed a resolution against the Pahalgam terrorist attack and resolved to fight resolutely to defeat the nefarious designs to disturb communal harmony and hinder progress.

During the assembly session, Abdullah, in an emotional 26-minute speech, had said he would not use the terror attack as an opportunity to press for the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, asserting that he does not believe in "cheap politics".