The Jammu and Kashmir government’s decision to shut down around 50 tourist destinations and trekking trails in the Valley is not just a reaction to the Pahalgam attacks but also informed by a need for a security review of all destinations, highly placed sources have told The Indian Express.
Sources said the security establishment plans to conduct a comprehensive security review of all tourist destinations, many of which have been opened in the past few years, and gradually reopen them once adequate arrangements are made.
Following Covid, there has been a push from the government to open up more areas to tourism, and as many as 75 new destinations have been added, sources said. Homestays have opened across the Valley, including in remote villages.
With the administration promoting adventure tourism, tour operators have begun taking tourists to even higher reaches of the mountains abutting the Valley. Many of these areas regularly report movement of militants.
To add to this, tourism now takes place round the year in Kashmir. Sources said that while there is a procedure for opening tourist spots for visits every season, depending on weather and other considerations, over the past few years, these timings have not been strictly adhered to.
The issue, particularly of tourists going to higher mountain reaches in the Valley, had been flagged by the security establishment in the past. In one instance, sources said, the local police stopped tourists from going to higher reaches of Kokernag and Daksum as both had reported movement of terrorists.
Following the Pahalgam attack, questions have been raised about why no security force personnel were stationed in the meadow, despite a significant security force presence in Pahalgam and a battalion of the CRPF at the base of the route to Baisaran.
Sources said a review of vulnerabilities at popular tourist destinations would be done now. They also indicated that adventure tourism may have to be restricted to areas where there is a significant presence of armed forces, and terrorist movement is not reported regularly.
“The thrust on tourism will continue. It is important both for the local economy and to keep the youth employed. But security concerns will have to be addressed first,” a J&K administration official said.
Despite repeated attempts, J&K Tourism Secretary Yasha Mudgal was not available for an official comment.
The destinations that have been shut down for not having “adequate” security presence include famous resorts like the Gurez Valley, Dodapathri, Verinag, the Bangus Valley and Yusmarg.
The government decided to close these destinations for the “safety of tourists”, officials maintained, adding that areas will adequate security presence will remain open.
Gurez, which has been closed, is a valley on the Line of Control that tourists have taken to over the last decade. Dodapathri, a meadow just 45 km away from Srinagar city, has also been shut.
The Bangus valley in north Kashmir’s Kupwara and Verinag in south Kashmir’s Anantnag have also been closed for tourists.
The Kaman post in Uri, on the LoC, which had been opened for tourists some time ago and was a hit among picnickers, has also now been closed.
The government has also decided to close Kousarnag, a high-altitude lake and trekking trail in south Kashmir’s Shopian, for tourists.
In Srinagar city, the government has decided not to allow tourists to visit Jamia Masjid, the grand mosque at the heart of the Old City.
Officials said police and paramilitary forces will erect checkpoints outside these tourist destinations and not allow visitors to go beyond designated areas.
