Gurez Valley Off-Limits: Locals Count Losses, Not Tourists

Bandipora, Jun 9: The Bandipora Police on Monday issued an advisory urging tourists to refrain from visiting Gurez Valley, following an earlier government ban on nearly 50 tourist destinations across Jammu and Kashmir, imposed in the aftermath of the April 22 Pahalgam attack.

The advisory, circulated amid increased attempts by locals to visit the scenic region during Eid holidays, asked travellers to avoid the 85-kilometre route from Bandipora to Gurez until further notice. It also provided helpline numbers for the Police Control Room for safety and travel updates.

The ban, still in effect, is widely attributed to Gurez Valley’s close proximity to the Line of Control. Gurez, once a restricted zone, opened to tourists in 2007 and has grown into a budding destination, attracting thousands of visitors in recent years.

Between 2018 and early 2025, Gurez’s natural beauty drew tourists in large numbers, especially to its sectors — Dawar, Tulail, and Kanzalwan. Investments in tourism soared, with new hotels, homestays, and Swiss-style campsites sprouting across the valley.

Ghulam Nabi Lone, president of the Gurez Hotelier Association, told Greater Kashmir that 13 hotels were operating in central Dawar, with nine more under construction. Around 40 homestays and dozens of campsites were also functioning.

“Dawar alone had raised over 1,000 tents this summer, all booked till June-end,” he said.

The advisory, however, has forced the tourism sector to a standstill. Pre-bookings worth crores are now being cancelled and refunded. “From chefs to pony handlers, everyone is affected. Many have loans between `50 lakh and `1 crore,” Lone added, warning that recovering from this blow will be nearly impossible in the short summer season when Gurez remains accessible. The broader local economy, too, is reeling. “It’s a devastating setback,” said Amir Anees Lone, a resident. “All our hopes are pinned on this short season. With this ban, we’ve lost everything.”

Locals are also upset about not being consulted. “Gurez has remained peaceful and safe. The administration should have taken stakeholders into confidence,” said Waseem Ahmad, a local entrepreneur. “This decision risks undoing years of hard work to put Gurez on the tourism map.”

As October approaches and the valley prepares to close for winter, many fear the damage may be long-term. The tourism sector, already fragile and seasonal, now stares at uncertainty, with livelihoods, investments, and morale hanging in the balance.