JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmirโs Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, announced on Wednesday that the Tourism Department will assess the feasibility of creating a Tourism Development Authority (TDA) for Gurez.
Addressing the Legislative Assembly, he highlighted J&Kโs rising prominence as a travel hotspot. โIn 2022, Gurez Valley earned the โBest Destinationโ title, showcasing its charm as an emerging travel spot. Further, in September 2023, Dawar village in Gurez secured the Gold Category โBest Tourism Villageโ award from the Union Ministry of Tourism, recognizing its rich culture and tourism potential,โ he stated.
To elevate Gurez as a prime travel destination, Omar outlined the governmentโs ongoing efforts. โFor the first time, commercial rafting was launched in Gurez in 2024. Additionally, this year, the Tourism Department has allocated funds under the 2024-25 Capex budget to upgrade Gurez as an unconventional tourist hub.โ
He reiterated that the department will assess the necessity of establishing a dedicated Tourism Development Authority for Gurez.
A day earlier, in a written reply to a query from Eidgah MLA Mubarak Gul, Tourism Minister Omar Abdullah revealed that Jammu and Kashmir recorded 2.12 crore tourist arrivals in 2023, increasing to 2.36 crore in 2024. Among them, 55,337 foreign tourists visited in 2023, rising to 65,452 in 2024, while domestic tourist numbers surged from 2.11 crore in 2023 to 2.35 crore in 2024.
The Chief Minister also underscored plans to boost religious tourism in Jammu, urging devotees of the Mata Vaishnodevi shrine to explore other regional attractions. With one crore pilgrims visiting the shrine annually, diverting even 10-15% to alternative sites could significantly strengthen the local economy, he added.
