Srinagar- Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday said the Centre cannot claim normalcy in the Union Territory until tourist destinations closed after the Pahalgam terror attack earlier this year are reopened, calling for an immediate review of the decision to keep several key spots shut.

Speaking to reporters after inaugurating Asia’s longest ski drag lift at Gulmarg, the Chief Minister said the continued closure of tourist destinations was creating confusion among visitors and sending mixed signals at a time when the government is projecting a revival of tourism.

“How long are you going to keep these destinations closed? On one hand, you tell the world that Jammu and Kashmir has normalised. On the other, half of Gulmarg, half of Pahalgam and Doodhpathri remain closed. Until you open these destinations, how can you claim normalcy?” Omar said.

‘Decision Not Ours, No Consultation’

Omar said the decision to close tourist destinations does not lie with the elected government and that there was no consultation before such steps were taken. The elected government, he said, can only focus on building and improving tourism-related infrastructure.

“Unfortunately, when destinations are closed, there is no consultation with us. If I were sitting there, I would have opened everything by now,” the Chief Minister said.

Several tourist spots were shut by the Lieutenant Governor’s administration following the April 22 terror attack in Baisaran meadows in Pahalgam, in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed. While some destinations were later reopened in a phased manner, many continue to remain closed.

Omar said Jammu and Kashmir had witnessed far worse security situations in the past, yet tourist destinations were never shut.

“When tourism restarted after 1996, the situation was far more difficult than it is today. Even then, destinations were not closed,” he said.

He said while the Centre has been supportive, the problem lies in the prolonged closure of tourist spots, which needs to be reviewed either at the Centre or Assembly level to restore clarity and confidence among tourists.

Despite challenges such as the Pahalgam attack, floods, the Delhi blast and an accidental explosion in Nowgam, Omar said the government has continued its efforts to strengthen tourism.

“Places like Gulmarg and Pahalgam today compete not only with destinations within the country but globally. Indian tourists travel all over the world, and in such circumstances, it is imperative to keep improving our infrastructure,” he said.

₹17 Crore Projects Dedicated at Gulmarg

Earlier in the day, the Chief Minister dedicated a series of major tourism infrastructure projects worth over Rs 17 crore to the public at Gulmarg and adjoining areas, marking a significant step towards strengthening Jammu and Kashmir’s winter tourism ecosystem.

He inaugurated Asia’s longest ski drag lift, measuring 726 metres, at Kongdoori, built at a cost of Rs 3.65 crore. He also inaugurated conservation works of a water body at Kongdoori costing Rs 0.90 crore and a rotating conference hall at Apharwat, constructed by the Jammu and Kashmir Cable Car Corporation at a cost of Rs 0.86 crore.

The Chief Minister laid the foundation stone for fencing of the Gulmarg Golf Course, a Rs 4.77 crore project aimed at protecting one of the region’s iconic tourism assets. Through online inaugurations and foundation ceremonies, he also dedicated projects including the office building of the Gulmarg Development Authority, reconstruction of Hut No. 2, construction of the Devri path along the Alambal roadside and development of a dedicated car parking facility.

He also inaugurated the Integrated Skiing Training and Adventure Tourism Centre at Gulmarg and launched integrated ski training courses to strengthen professional winter sports infrastructure. The projects were executed by the Gulmarg Development Authority and the Jammu and Kashmir Cable Car Corporation.

“These initiatives are not just infrastructure additions but strategic investments that will create year-round tourism opportunities, generate employment for local youth and elevate Gulmarg to international standards,” Omar said, adding that the vision is to make Gulmarg a global hub for winter sports while preserving its fragile ecology.

Jammu and Kashmir’s tourism sector will get an investment of about Rs 5,500 crore under an externally funded budget, Omar said.

“We will do whatever we can for Gulmarg and other tourism destinations. It will perhaps be for the first time that under an externally funded project, tourism sector will get an exclusive investment of about Rs 5,500 crore,” he said while addressing an event in Gulmarg in north Kashmir.

Snowfall, Statehood and Power Cuts

Expressing concern over the absence of snowfall so far this winter, Omar said tourists are eagerly waiting for snow. “Everyone asks whether it has snowed. We say not yet, and they ask us to inform them when it does,” he said.

On the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood, the Chief Minister quipped, “Let it snow first, then we will talk about statehood.”

Responding to queries on winter power cuts, Omar said outages were sometimes unavoidable due to maintenance and revenue constraints, urging people to use electricity judiciously. He said unmetered consumption and inadequate revenue collection have made regular load shedding a compulsion.

Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, MLA Gulmarg Farooq Ahmad Shah, MLA Zadibal Tanvir Sadiq, Deputy Commissioner Baramulla Minga Sherpa, Director Tourism and Managing Director JKCCC Syed Qamar Sajad, senior officers, tourism stakeholders and prominent tourism players were present on the occasion.