Invites Travellers to explore Kashmir, inaugurates Roadshow in Guj
Jammu, Jul 31: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday appealed to the Centre to grant statehood to the union territory and hand over all the responsibilities to the local government, asserting that they were competent enough.
He expressed confidence that if granted powers, the local government can once again improve the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
“I believe that all the responsibilities must be handed over to us. I have been saying since day one to give us the responsibility of security. People elected us, gave reins in our hands, then we should also get all the responsibilities,” Abdullah told reporters in Ahmedabad during an interaction.
“And it is not that we are incompetent or that we cannot do the work. In my previous tenure of six years (as CM), you can see our graph. There was a reduction in militancy, terror attacks and casualties of security forces. We had improved the situation. We can improve it again if we are once again given the powers,” he added.
Abdullah was responding to a question about his government’s role in ensuring the safety of tourists in the wake of the Pahalgam attack.
He has been on a two-day visit to Gujarat from Wednesday to promote tourism in Jammu and Kashmir. His visit was part of a tourism promotion event organised by the Travel Agents Society of Kashmir (TASK), the apex body of tour operators of Kashmir.
Following the terror attack, all the tourism destinations were closed for security audit and reopened only after the authorities were satisfied on that front, Abdullah said.
He added that tourism in his union territory got affected after the Pahalgam terror attack, but asserted that people associated with the industry were not sitting idle either.
In one of the worst terror strikes in Jammu and Kashmir in recent history, 26 tourists, including several from Gujarat, Maharashtra and Karnataka, were killed at Pahalgam on April 22 this year.
Among them were Shailesh Kalthia from Surat, and the father-son duo from Bhavnagar Yatish Parmar and Smit Parmar. The attack also dealt a blow to Kashmir’s tourism economy.
“I am not denying that the Pahalgam terror attack had affected our tourism industry. Because it happened in the beginning of the peak season and everyone left the state overnight after the attack. But Kashmir is not empty and we have not come here in despair.
“We just want more people to visit Jammu and Kashmir. So don’t harbour any misunderstanding. Lakhs of people have already visited Kashmir for Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra and for Amarnath Yatra (after the Pahalgam attack),” he said.
“Gujarat, Maharashtra and West Bengal are our biggest markets. Our message to all of them is that Jammu and Kashmir is not shut for tourism. It is open. I invite people of Gujarat to come there and enjoy our hospitality,” Abdullah said.
When asked to comment on US President Donald Trump’s announcement to impose 25 per cent tariffs on Indian goods, the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference leader took a swipe at the Modi government, saying even they do not have any idea about what to do in this situation.
“The central government never called me to take my opinion on how they can deal with the Trump administration. Nor do I think they know what should be done. Because even the Americans do not know what to do with Trump saheb,” he added.
“No one knows what mood Trump would be in the morning. Today, he imposed a 25 per cent tariff on us, tomorrow he will say it should be 15, then it will come down to 5. We cannot make any policy in such a situation. Let it go on as it is,” he said.
After his arrival here, Abdullah held a meeting with Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel in Gandhinagar on Wednesday.
“The meeting focused on deepening inter-state relations, promoting tourism and sharing best practices for inclusive development,” Abdullah’s office said in a post on ‘X’ on Wednesday.
On Thursday morning, the J&K CM went for jogging near the iconic Atal Bridge at the Sabarmati Riverfront here.
“While in Ahmedabad for a tourism event, I took advantage of being here to get my morning run at the famed Sabarmati River Front promenade. It’s one of the nicest places I’ve been able to run & it was a pleasure to get to share it with so many other walkers/runners. I even managed to run past the amazing Atal Foot Bridge” he said in a post on ‘X’.
Later during the day, he visited the Statue of Unity in Narmada district and inaugurated the Travel and Tourism Fair (TTF) at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar.
There, Abdullah extended a warm invitation to travellers from across the country to explore the unparalleled beauty, rich culture and warm hospitality of Jammu & Kashmir.
Highlighting Jammu & Kashmir’s immense tourism potential, the Chief Minister said the region continues to offer diverse experiences for travellers throughout the year. He emphasized the growing tourism exchange between Gujarat and J&K and reiterated the Government’s commitment to positioning Jammu & Kashmir as a vibrant, all-season destination.
The Chief Minister engaged with exhibitors from across the travel and tourism industry. He visited Exhibition Halls to interact with delegates and businesses showcasing their offerings.
An official spokesperson said that Travel and Tourism Fair (TTF) Ahmedabad, Gujarat’s biggest travel trade show, would see participation of over 900 exhibitors, more than 70 travel and tourism stakeholders from across J&K, and international representation from Sri Lanka. The event stands as a premier platform for B2B networking and tourism promotion.
Later on Thursday evening, Abdullah inaugurated a high-profile Road Show and Business Meet in Ahmedabad, aimed at strengthening tourism and trade ties between Jammu & Kashmir and Gujarat.
The event brought together stakeholders from Gujarat and Jammu & Kashmir to foster partnerships in tourism, trade, and business innovation.
The event was jointly organised by the Travel Agents Society of Kashmir (TASK), Kashmir Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI), and South Gujarat Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SGCCI), bringing together key stakeholders from both regions.
The evening commenced with a press interaction, followed by a vibrant business networking session that laid the groundwork for deeper collaboration in sectors like tourism, handicrafts, hospitality, and infrastructure. In his keynote address, the Chief Minister highlighted the vast opportunities for investment in Jammu & Kashmir and reaffirmed his government’s commitment to fostering a dynamic, investor-friendly ecosystem.
“Jammu & Kashmir is open for business,” said the Chief Minister, “and we welcome our friends from Gujarat to explore, invest, and be part of our growth story.”
Presentations by leading tourism stakeholders—Khyber Resorts, Ahad Hotels, and Mushtaq Group—showcased the richness and diversity of J&K’s tourism offerings, from luxury hospitality to adventure travel.
