Srinagar, Dec 17: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said that without snow the government cannot sell Gulmarg and that the impact of climate change can’t be ignored on Kashmir’s tourism sector, especially on winter destinations.
The Chief Minister made the remark at the inauguration of the 17th Annual Convention of the Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI) at the Sher-I-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC), Srinagar.
Addressing the gathering, CM Omar said that it was “homecoming” for him to be part of an event that celebrates the spirit of adventure.
Recalling his own adventure experiences, from going up in a hot air balloon to the humble feeling of being part of a summit, he said one doesn’t need to touch Everest to feel on top.
He underlined the impact of climate change on Kashmir’s tourism sector, especially on winter destinations like Gulmarg. “If I don’t have snow, I can’t sell Gulmarg. The reality of climate change can no longer be ignored. We see glaciers receding, snowfall reducing, these are facts we must confront,” he said.
The CM also urged the industry to explore artificial snow-making and new technologies to sustain skiing and winter tourism.
He also acknowledged that the tourism sector in Jammu and Kashmir had endured a challenging year, citing incidents at Pahalgam attack, weather and Delhi blast that disrupted travel flows. “Only those in the tourism industry understand how hard it is to recover in such times,” he said, adding that the government remains committed to supporting operators and ensuring safe tourism experiences.
He also called for diversifying adventure offerings, from paragliding and hot-air ballooning to new training programs, to make Jammu and Kashmir a year-round adventure destination.
“The world of adventure tourism is expanding rapidly. We want J&K to be part of that global growth story responsibly, safely and sustainably,” he said. (KNO)
