Jammu & Kashmir has witnessed a remarkable rise in both domestic and international tourist arrivals over the past five years, reflecting the region’s growing appeal as a sought-after travel destination. According to data from the Jammu & Kashmir Tourism Department, domestic tourist visits (DTVs) surged from 25.19 lakh in 2020 to a record 2.35 crore in 2024. The year-on-year growth has been particularly notable, with a 349% jump in 2021, followed by significant increases of 63.5% in 2022, 11.78% in 2023, and 13.76% in 2024. Similarly, foreign tourist visits (FTVs) expanded from just over 5,000 in 2020 to 65,452 in 2024, marking an impressive 18.28% growth over the previous year and showcasing the region’s improving appeal on the global tourism map.
Supporting this surge in tourism are infrastructure projects under the Ministry of Tourism’s Swadesh Darshan Scheme. In 2016-17, six landmark projects were sanctioned for Jammu & Kashmir with a total outlay of ₹519.58 crore, all of which have now been completed. These projects, primarily under the Himalayan Circuit, include the development of key tourist hubs such as Jammu, Srinagar, Pahalgam, Anantnag, Kargil, Leh, Rajouri, Shopian, Pulwama, Mantalai, Sudhmahadev, Kishtwar, Zanskar, Daksum, and Gulmarg, among others. Additionally, substantial resources were allocated for the reconstruction of tourist assets destroyed in the 2014 floods under the Prime Minister’s Development Package.
Despite this progress, the Ministry of Tourism clarified that no formal employment assessment related to these projects has been undertaken in the last five years. Union Minister for Tourism and Culture, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, shared this information in a written reply in the Lok Sabha, emphasizing the government’s ongoing commitment to bolstering infrastructure and supporting the flourishing tourism sector in Jammu & Kashmir. These developments underscore the region’s growing stature as a premier travel destination, buoyed by improved connectivity and world-class tourist facilities.
