The recent meeting between the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha underscores the urgency of addressing the deepening distress in Kashmir’s tourism sector. Tourism remains the backbone of the Kashmir’s economy, supporting thousands of livelihoods directly and indirectly. Any prolonged disruption, therefore, has wide social and economic consequences.

The setback following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack highlights the fragility of a sector that is highly sensitive to security perceptions and confidence. While recent years witnessed unprecedented tourist arrivals and significant private investment, the sudden wave of cancellations has exposed structural vulnerabilities that require immediate policy intervention.

Restoring confidence through sustained promotion both domestic and international must be treated as an economic priority rather than a seasonal exercise.

Equally critical are the regulatory and administrative bottlenecks flagged by stakeholders. Delays in licence renewals, particularly for houseboats, undermine ease of doing business and threaten the survival of iconic tourism assets.

A single-window, digitised and time-bound approval system would not only reduce uncertainty but also signal the administration’s intent to support genuine operators.