J&K records over 1.77 crore tourist visits in 2025: Govt

Srinagar, Feb 7: Jammu and Kashmir recorded a tourist footfall of over 1.77 crore visitors in 2025, the government informed the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Saturday, while clarifying that no specific targets have been fixed for tourist arrivals in 2026.

In a written reply to a starred question raised by Pampore MLA Hasnain Masoodi, the Tourism Department said that a total of 1,77,65,390 tourists visited the Union Territory between January 1 and December 31, 2025. Of these, 1,72,89,980 were domestic tourists, while 36,410 were foreign visitors.

The government said that although no numerical targets have been laid down for the coming year, sustained efforts are continuing to boost tourist inflow through aggressive promotional campaigns and infrastructure development. It informed the House that the focus remains on increasing both domestic and international tourist arrivals over existing figures.

Replying to another query regarding the resumption of international flight operations, the government said that Srinagar International Airport is fully equipped with the required infrastructure to handle international traffic. This includes facilities related to immigration, customs, security and passenger handling.

However, the government clarified that the commencement of international flights to destinations such as Dubai, Jeddah and London depends on the operational and commercial decisions of the airlines concerned. It added that the airport remains ready to facilitate international operations whenever airlines decide to begin such services.

On the Home Stay Programme, the government said the initiative has significantly contributed to increasing accommodation capacity, generating local employment and enhancing community participation in the tourism sector. In view of its positive impact, the department proposes to extend the programme to other potential areas across the Union Territory.