Centre Says Foreign Tourist Arrivals Soar in Jammu Kashmir, Ladakh | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh have seen a notable rise in foreign tourist inflow over the past five years, the Ministry of Tourism informed the Lok Sabha.

According to official figures, foreign tourist visits to Jammu and Kashmir jumped from 5,317 in 2020 to 65,452 in 2024, marking a sharp post-pandemic revival. Ladakh showed a similar upswing, with foreign arrivals rising from 1,126 in 2020 to 39,704 in 2024.

Officials attributed the growth to improved connectivity, upgraded tourism infrastructure, and focused international promotional campaigns, which have renewed global interest in both Union Territories.

The ministry added that JK and Ladakh were part of India’s delegation at the World Travel Market (WTM) 2025 in London, where adventure tourism, cultural offerings and other products from the Himalayan region were presented to global stakeholders.

“Domestic and foreign tourist arrivals crossed 205 lakh in 2024, exceeding pre-Covid numbers, with tourism continuing to play a key role in foreign exchange earnings and job creation,” the ministry stated.