SRINAGAR: Kashmir's thriving tourism industry, which had shown remarkable recovery in recent years, has been brought to a near-complete standstill following the Pahalgam attack and subsequent India-Pakistan military confrontation, leaving thousands jobless and the region's economy in turmoil.
While some slow signs of tourism revival can be seen with few tourists trickling down to Kashmir, the trekking tourism sector, which is popular among adventure enthusiasts, has been completely devastated with the government announcing several trekking routes as out of bounds.
Trekking and mountaineering related hiking activities are completely suspended right after the Pahalgam attack. Nearly 50 public parks were closed bringing an end to adventure tourism.
The government said this move is taken for the security situation in the valley.
Kashmir’s trekking season, which typically runs from May through September, is a lifeline for many as it supports trekkers, guides, adventure stores, climbing guides, and paragliding guides, etc.
Adnan’s Journey: A Dream on Hold
With eyes full of wonder and a heart that beats for the mountains, since his childhood Adnan was fascinated by travel, mostly going to the mountains. He was never fascinated by luxury hotels and city lights, but the raw, rugged trails that led through forests, up mountains, and across hidden valleys.
In 2023, when he grew older, he started his shop at Srinagar’s Bemina area, namely Rentozz. The shop is full of gear that is useful for mountaineering, and trekking.
“I started this business so that people interested in adventure tourism could get access to quality gear which was previously not available in Kashmir easily,” he says, and gradually filled up his shop with proper trekking shoes, waterproof tents, sleeping bags, utensils, and climbing ropes.
Travellers either had to rely on poor-quality gear or buy expensive equipment from outside the state.
“Rentozz is a store dedicated to adventure lovers like him. It isn’t just a business—it was my dream,” he says, and his eyes twinkle when he talks about it. In a moment that shine is gone.
“But dreams are fragile in the face of conflict,” he adds with sadness.
“After the attack in Pahalgam, the government imposed a sudden and indefinite ban on trekking activities across Kashmir,” he says. “The decision taken by the Government of India in the name of safety shattered our business. Tourists on adventure trails completely cancelled their plans to visit Kashmir. Locals no longer come to look for gear,” he adds.
From an energetic hub of energy and excitement, Rentozz has become a quiet room filled with untouched gear and fading hopes. Adnan, however, hasn’t given up. “I hope everything will be fine soon,” he says.
Until then, Adnan waits—not giving up, just holding on.
Zeeshan Mushtaq: A Guide without a Trail
Zeeshan Mushtaq, 25, from Srinagar, Soura, has been working as a freelance mountain guide for over a year. He takes people up into the beauty of Kashmir’s hidden valleys, snow-clad slopes, and wild trails. “I guide tourists and locals. Weekends were for group treks,” he says.
This year, Zeeshan had planned to start his own trekking company. I had bookings lined up— people from across India and abroad, also some locals. Some wanted ice climbing, others trekking through the meadows and hills.
Then came the ban!
Without warning, trekking and climbing activities were banned in the name of security. The result was cancellation of every single booking. For Zeeshan this was a blow.
Months of planning were wasted. Income for the season vanished. All the advanced payrolls had to be returned.
I kept calling the tourism department. They listened, but didn’t act. They said it’s because of security reasons. But how do we survive?
I’m not just a guide. I’m someone who wanted to create experiences, jobs, and hope — especially in a place like Kashmir, where unemployment is already crushing so many young dreams.
Now I’m mentally exhausted, not just due to loss of money, but because of loss of momentum, of purpose. When you finally feel like you’re building something real, and it shatters overnight, it feels suffocating.
But still, I tell myself: the mountains haven’t gone anywhere. They are waiting.
Mohsin Farooq: From corporate Desks to Mountain Trails
In the bustling heart of Srinagar’s Nawa Bazar area, Mohsin Farooq started his Adventure Gear business six months ago. Mohsin left behind the comfort of a stable corporate job to follow a path less travelled—one carved through Kashmir’s majestic mountains and valleys.
“For years, I worked behind a desk,” Mohsin says. “The job was good, the pay was handsome, but something was missing”. That “something” was his passion for trekking— and unshakable love for the outdoors - the mountain peaks, the fresh air, and the silence of nature that spoke louder than any office meeting.
One day, he made a bold decision. He quit his job.
With faith and determination, he opened his adventure store, it became more than just a shop; it was a hub for explorers, travellers, and young dreamers. “Every Sunday, our team organises local trekking events, guiding small groups into the surrounding hills and mountains,” he reveals.
But it wasn’t just about the trails. Something deeper was happening.
“I noticed many boys who had fallen into drug addiction. They came with us on these treks, and slowly, they changed. The mountains healed what the streets had broken,” Mohsin shares.
A sudden ban on trekking shattered the business. 90% of our work vanished overnight, he says, his voice heavy. “We faced losses we weren’t prepared for... But more than money, I fear for the youth. Without such outlets, they may fall back into the trap of addiction and hopelessness”.
Despite the setbacks, Mohsin’s resolve remains strong. “Startups face a lot of issues. But we started this with a belief, not just in a business, but in change. And that belief will carry us through.”
From corporate meetings to mountain summits, Mohsin’s journey is one of courage, faith, and resilience— a story that proves that even when the road disappears, the will to walk remains.
Wings in the wind: The story of Two friends from Pahalgam
In the quiet village of Laripora, nestled in the breathtaking Pahalgam valley of Kashmir, two friends — Ishaan Ibrahim Raina and Nasir Hussain Raina — shared a dream that soared higher than the surrounding Himalayan peaks.
From a young age, Ishaan and Nasir were drawn to the skies, They paid ₹50,000 to enroll in the P1, P2 and P3 paragliding courses. It wasn’t easy. Every rupee was earned through hard work, and every lesson was a step closer to touching the sky.
After months of training, they took the next leap: they bought their first glider together — a sleek beauty worth ₹2.5 lakh. It was more than just equipment. It was a symbol of their unity, struggle, and vision. With that glider, they became the first certified paragliding pilots from Kashmir.
In the months that followed, the skies over Pahalgam came alive with colour and joy. Tourists from all over the country came to experience paragliding and the duo were fast recovering their investment cost.
This included the fee for site permission from the government for 3 years to operate their paragliding.
But then the unexpected happened. After the tragic attack in Pahalgam, the government imposed a ban on trekking and related adventure activities across Kashmir. Their business, built with heart and hard-earned money, came to a crashing halt even before they could cover the cost of setting it up.
With no flights, no tourists, and no income, Ishaan and Nasir found themselves grounded — not just in the sky, but in spirit. Their gliders lay folded, gathering dust. The gadgets and safety gear — all investments made with hope — now felt like burdens. They had dreams and plans to promote paragliding education. All of it paused.
“We don’t know when we’ll fly again,” Ishaan said, we thought we were building something beautiful. But now…. We’re stuck. No money, no way forward.”
Desperate and disheartened, they are toying with the idea of shifting their business — perhaps to Himachal Pradesh, where adventure sports still thrives. But starting over isn’t easy when you’re already deep in loss, emotionally and financially.
Still, somewhere inside them, the same fire flickers — the one that once made them chase the wind in winter. Because dreams don’t die in silence — they wait for the wind to rise again.
Payal’s Journey to Kashmir
Payal, a tourist from Mumbai, had always been enchanted by the beauty of Kashmir. She said, with its snow-capped mountains, lush valleys, and serene lakes, it had long held a special place in her heart. So, when she and her husband decided to take a family vacation with their young son, Kashmir was their first choice.
They made their plans well in advance, full of excitement and hope. But just before their trip, news of an attack in Pahalgam came. The incident was disturbing—Payal describes it simply: “it was not good at all”. Many friends and relatives urged them to cancel the trip.
But Payal and her family chose to move forward “We had planned this before the attack, and we believed in the goodness of the place and the people,” she said.
A week after Pahalgam, walking through the peaceful valley and interacting with the warm-hearted locals, she said that she feels safe and welcome. “The people of Kashmir are truly good. They treat us with so much respect and kindness. We never felt unsafe for even a moment,” she shared with a calm smile.
Her message was clear and heartfelt: “Kashmir is a paradise on Earth. Don’t let fear stop you. The people here are dependent on tourism, and by coming here, we support their livelihood and get to experience unmatched beauty and hospitality. I sincerely request everyone to please come to Kashmir without fear”.
Low to modest tourists is beginning to resume since the calm following the three-four days of hostility between India and Pakistan between May7 and May 10. But adventure tourism continues to remain suspended.
Growth and Decline
In recent years, the tourism sector in Jammu and Kashmir had been experiencing steady growth, with visitor numbers rising from 26 lakh in 2022 to 27 lakh in 2023 and reaching an impressive 35 lakh tourists in 2024. After 5 lakh tourists visiting in the first three months of 2025 before the crisis began, the momentum was brutally interrupted after the attack, even more after the India-Pakistan confrontation, leading to skirmishes on the borders and air battles between the two sides.
The impact has been immediate and severe. According to the Kashmir Hotel Association, a staggering 80 percent of tourist bookings to Kashmir were cancelled following the Pahalgam attack, effectively paralysing an industry that had become a cornerstone of the region's economy.
Mushtaq Chaya, Chairman of the Kashmir Hotel Association said that while tourism stakeholders are undoubtedly affected by the business decline, their primary concern remains the tragic incident itself. "We are not worried by the decline of our business, but we are sad because of the incident that took place in Kashmir," Chaya stated.
The consequences extend far beyond hotel cancellations. Kashmir's once-bustling tourism infrastructure now stands largely empty, with mountain retreats deserted and local businesses hit adversely.
While people were slowly beginning to recover from the shock and fear caused by the Pahalgam attack, the recent India-Pakistan military dispute further deteriorated the situation. The conflict, which began when Indian Armed Forces attacked alleged terrorist camps in Pakistan on May 7, 2025, in response to the Pahalgam attack, has created additional layers of uncertainty and fear.
The Kashmir Times visited the director of the tourism office to inquire about the GDP contribution of the tourism sector and the impact of the current situation. However, the PA didn’t permit a meeting, and phone calls went unanswered.
Kashmir's Skies Grounded
What brought tourism to a complete halt ahead of the India-Pakistan skirmishes was the complete shutdown of the Srinagar airport amidst tensions. But flights remain reduced even after the tensions have subsided a bit.
Kashmir witnessed 70% drop in air flights immediately after Pahalgam attack, even as the fares were drastically slashed.
The India-Pakistan tensions that started building up in the aftermath of the Pahalgam killings compelled the Indian Government to shut 32 airports, including Srinagar airport, leading to suspension of air traffic from May 7 to 15. However, later, after the ceasefire, the airports were re-opened on May 13.
Srinagar airport also resumed operations with about four flights. The number has picked up since then but the size of travellers has drastically dropped.
The official data shows that the number of air travellers has plateaued at around 6,500 from 19,140 passengers before the Pahalgam attack, Now the total traffic combined doesn’t meet either the incoming or departing flyers of 9,000 a day at the airport.
This has forced the airlines to reduce the daily flights by more than half, with a total of 22 flights arriving a day at the Srinagar Airport.
Many flights like Air India operate only five flights a day, while cancelling three scheduled flights to the Valley.
This situation has triggered “operational losses” for many airlines with mass cancellations of tickets in the last over a month.
Majority of the travellers are either the local population, pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj pilgrimage or defence personnel, an executive added.
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