Tourism Hit Hard After April Pahalgam Attack, Kashmir Looks to Snow for Recovery
Kashmir tourism pins revival on winter snowfall.
The terrorist attack on April 22, 2025, at Baisaran meadows in Pahalgam, where militants killed 26 civilians—including mostly Hindu tourists, one Christian tourist, and a local Muslim ponywala—inflicted a devastating blow to Kashmir's tourism sector, severely undermining visitor confidence and prompting massive cancellations that have lingered throughout the year.
Amid a prolonged dry spell and intense cold wave gripping the Valley with sub-freezing nighttime temperatures, tourism stakeholders—including hoteliers, houseboat owners, tour operators, shikara operators, and ski instructors—are placing their hopes on the season's first major snowfall to spur a significant resurgence in arrivals and alleviate persistent economic hardships.
Signs of tentative recovery have emerged in recent weeks, with rising bookings for Christmas and New Year periods driven primarily by domestic tourists from states such as Gujarat, Maharashtra, South India, and West Bengal, alongside fully occupied accommodations in certain Gulmarg hotels and growing interest in new facilities like the world's highest revolving restaurant on Apharwat Peak, which provides stunning 360-degree panoramic views.
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Industry leaders stress that substantial snowfall is indispensable for a robust rebound, as numerous prospective visitors are delaying bookings until the region is blanketed in snow, anticipating that a transformative white landscape across mountains and plains will dramatically elevate tourist footfall, hotel occupancy, and overall sector vitality.
The Meteorological Department has forecast light snow over higher reaches from December 20 to 21, sparking measured optimism among stakeholders, even as areas like Sonamarg remain largely devoid of visitors and iconic houseboats on Dal and Nageen lakes stand idle, highlighting the industry's acute dependence on favorable winter precipitation for sustained revival.
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