Jammu and Kashmir records tourist arrivals: Are the numbers exact?

Srinagar: The recent claims by the government that 2.35 crore tourists visited Jammu-Kashmir in 2024, have raised both celebrations and skepticism in the Union Territory (UT).

While the official data points flourishing tourism, the local stakeholders were questioning the veracity of these figures, arguing on the usage of the term 'visits' rather than 'tourists' misrepresents the real state of tourism in the region.

According to official figures, 2,00,91,379 tourists visited Jammu in 2024, including 94,55,605 pilgrims to Vaishno Devi, while 34,98,702 tourist arrivals were reported in Kashmir, including 5,11,922 pilgrims to Amarnath. 

Many in the tourism industry have indicate doubt, particularly regarding difference between counting "visits" v/s counting "tourists". A local traveler describe that the statistics are based on visits to particular tourist destination and function as well as criticised the official figures. A tourist that visited only a single destination like Srinagar counts one visit. But if that same tourist afterwards travels to Gulmarg, Sonamarg and Pahalgam, every such trip counts as yet separate visit, so this counting system inflates the numbers as one individual could well be counted for four different tourists.

Even the chief Minister acknowledged the method of recording visits on a destination-to-destination basis, like Government of India does in its own tourism data. Its like counting tourism figures for destination by the Government of India.

Omar stated that the promotion of religious sites and tourism is now on top of the government's priorities. A well known hotelier, emphasized that the differences between visits and tourists is not just a technical issue but one of serious one for tourism policy, planning and resource allocation. Although the official figures of tourism may signal growth and recovery, It's important to explain them with caution. If numbers were more transparently calculated it would help general public and industry stakeholders, and offer a clearer understanding of the state tourism in (Jammu and Kashmir) J&K.

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