11.16 lakh tourists including 22,993 foreigners visited Kashmir in 2025

Srinagar, Mar 8: After witnessing a steady rise in tourist arrivals over the past few years, Kashmir recorded a noticeable dip in tourist inflow in 2025, with the Valley receiving 11.16 lakh visitors during the year, according to official figures accessed by Greater Kashmir.

The data reveals that out of the total 11,16,043 tourists who visited Kashmir in 2025, around 10,93,050 were domestic tourists, while 22,993 were foreign visitors.

The year 2025 saw a decline in tourist arrivals, largely attributed to the aftermath of a terror attack in Pahalgam in April 2025, which affected travel sentiment and bookings during the peak tourism season.

Official data shows that Kashmir witnessed a steady growth in tourist arrivals in the preceding years.

In 2021, Kashmir received 6,65,777 tourists, including 6,64,163 domestic visitors and 1614 foreign tourists.

Tourism rebounded strongly in 2022 when Kashmir recorded 26,73,442 visitors, comprising 26,53,495 domestic tourists and 19,947 foreign nationals.

The upward trend continued in 2023 with tourist arrivals reaching 31,55,835, including 31,18,157 domestic tourists and 37,678 foreign visitors.

The tourism sector touched a peak in 2024 when Kashmir received 34,98,702 tourists, of which 34,55,048 were domestic travellers and 43,654 were foreign tourists.

However, the numbers declined sharply in 2025 with the total tourist inflow falling to 11.16 lakh, reflecting the impact of security-related concerns on travel to the region.

Tourism has emerged as one of the most vibrant and resilient sectors of Jammu and Kashmir’s economy, contributing significantly to J&K’s development and employment generation.

According to the Economic Survey 2025-26, the sector contributes nearly 7 percent to the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) of Jammu and Kashmir and provides livelihood to around 5 lakh people directly and indirectly through hospitality, transport, handicrafts, and adventure tourism services.

Known as the ‘Paradise on Earth,’ Jammu and Kashmir continues to attract visitors with its scenic landscapes and tranquil environment.

The region has also developed into a major destination for adventure tourism, offering activities such as skiing, snowboarding, and gondola rides during winter, while trekking, mountaineering, river rafting and other outdoor activities draw tourists during the summer months.

The administration has also been promoting niche segments including golf tourism and rural tourism.

Internationally recognised golf courses such as Royal Springs Golf Course in Srinagar and Jammu Tawi Golf Course have further strengthened the region’s tourism appeal. The growth of homestay accommodations has also supported the sector, with more than 16,500 registered homestay beds available across different districts of J&K.

According to the Economic Survey, the tourism sector has witnessed remarkable growth in recent years.

J&K recorded a record 2.36 crore tourist visits in 2024, compared to 1.88 crore visitors in 2022.

Despite challenges such as security-related incidents and natural calamities, J&K still recorded 1.78 crore tourist visits in 2025, reflecting the sector’s continued resilience.