Last Updated on February 20, 2026 11:40 pm by INDIAN AWAAZ
AMN/ WEB DESK
Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed a sharp surge in tourist arrivals in the post-2019 period, with over 7.85 crore tourists visiting between 2023 and 2025, compared to 4.76 crore visitors during 2016-18. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who heads the tourism department, has provided detailed tourist footfall data and comparative figures in the Legislative Assembly.
According to the data, the Kashmir division received over 59 lakh tourists during 2016-18, which rose sharply to 2.42 crore tourists between 2023 and 2025, reflecting a significant revival of tourism in the Valley after 2019. However, the Government noted a decline in tourist arrivals in the Kashmir division in 2025, with footfall dropping from over 98 lakh in 2024 to over 47 lakh in 2025 due to Pahalgam terror attack. In the Jammu region, tourist arrivals stood at 4.16 crore during 2016-18, increasing to 5.43 crore between 2023 and 2025, indicating sustained growth driven largely by pilgrimage and religious tourism.
Among major religious destinations, the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine at Katra continued to dominate tourist inflow, attracting over 95 lakh pilgrims in 2024, up from 90 lakh in 2023. Over 69 lakh pilgrims visited the shrine this year so far.