Srinagar: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said tourist flow to Jammu and Kashmir may need to be regulated in the future to protect popular destinations from mounting pressure and ensure visitors are not subjected to overcrowding, traffic jams and inadequate facilities.
While welcoming the surge in tourist arrivals, Omar said Jammu and Kashmir needed to rethink its tourism strategy and move away from merely chasing higher visitor numbers towards a value-based and sustainable model.
“We have to decide whether we wish to earn by charging one hundred tourists one rupee each or by creating an experience where one tourist is willing to pay one hundred rupees. The answer to that question must shape all our future tourism master plans,” Omar said.
He was addressing the inaugural session of the Conclave on Sustainable Tourism Planning, “Designing Tourism for Tomorrow”, organised by the Tourism Department at SKICC here.
Omar said the increasing tourist flow may have to be managed in the future so that resorts are protected and visitors are able to enjoy a serene environment instead of facing a “harrowing experience” of traffic congestion, poor facilities and overcrowding.
“Tourism without sustainability is an unqualified disaster. It may survive for a few years, but it cannot endure in the long run unless sustainability is built into its very foundation,” he said.
Reflecting on Jammu and Kashmir’s tourism journey over the past three decades, the Chief Minister said the region had understandably pursued a volume-based approach to demonstrate normalcy after years of conflict. However, recent fluctuations in tourist arrivals had exposed the vulnerability of the sector.
Referring to the Pahalgam attack, Omar said that before the incident, the administration was grappling with traffic congestion caused by a massive tourist influx, but soon afterwards hotels and destinations were left empty.
“This reminds us how fragile tourism can be in Jammu and Kashmir, where a single incident can affect the whole season,” he said.
The Chief Minister said sustainable tourism planning must address traffic regulation, parking infrastructure, waste management, water conservation, building regulations, carrying capacity and community participation.
Expressing concern over recurring traffic congestion at popular destinations, he said merely creating infrastructure would not solve the problem unless it was effectively utilised and accompanied by scientific traffic management.
He also cautioned against unplanned regulatory measures without consultation with stakeholders, saying recent traffic management decisions had adversely affected tourists and transport operators.
“Sustainability cannot be based on knee-jerk reactions. Every intervention must be well-planned, thoroughly discussed with stakeholders and capable of delivering long-term solutions,” Omar said.
Calling for a scientific assessment of the carrying capacity of individual tourist destinations, Omar said a uniform approach could not be adopted across Jammu and Kashmir.
“Srinagar may comfortably accommodate far more visitors than ecologically fragile destinations such as Gulmarg or Gurez. We cannot adopt a uniform approach for every destination,” he said.
Omar said Jammu and Kashmir’s greatest tourism asset was its natural beauty and not artificial attractions.
“We are not selling Disneyland, Universal Studios or Las Vegas. What attracts people here is our rivers, lakes, mountains, glaciers and landscapes. Protecting these natural assets must remain the central objective of every tourism master plan,” he said.
The Chief Minister also raised concerns over solid waste management and said environmental degradation could not be blamed solely on tourists. Referring to waste removal efforts in Dal Lake, he said a significant portion of the waste originated from local habitations.
“Government has a responsibility to manage waste, but citizens too have an equal responsibility. Unless we begin treating Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonamarg and Dal Lake as we treat our own homes, sustainability will remain elusive,” he said.
He also stressed the need to eliminate single-use plastic and formulate long-term water management strategies amid growing pressure on resources.
Omar called for strict enforcement of building regulations and tourism master plans, saying selective implementation weakened public confidence.
“A master plan is only as good as its implementation. Selective enforcement breeds resentment and weakens public confidence. Tourism planning cannot be confined to offices; it must be prepared in consultation with local communities who have lived in these destinations for generations,” he said.
On the growing influx of tourist vehicles from outside Jammu and Kashmir, Omar said while their arrival had helped restore confidence in Kashmir as a tourism destination, it also placed additional pressure on local infrastructure and affected the livelihoods of local transport operators.
“We have to ensure that tourism generates greater benefits for our own people. The objective should be to move steadily up the value chain rather than simply chasing higher tourist numbers,” he said.
Advocating premium tourism experiences, Omar said value-based tourism could help destinations earn more while reducing environmental stress and improving visitor experience.
“Value tourism is sustainable tourism. Our responsibility is to create conditions where local people earn better incomes while ensuring that tourism remains environmentally and economically sustainable for generations to come,” he said.
Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani and Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo also addressed the conclave, stressing the need for master planning of tourist destinations, development of new destinations, environmental protection and strengthening Tourism Development Authorities.
Additional Chief Secretary, Tourism, Ashish Chandra Verma presented the government’s initiative to prepare tourism master plans for destinations across Jammu and Kashmir. He outlined a tier-based approach to categorise destinations according to ecological sensitivity, tourism potential and infrastructure requirements.
