Srinagar, Sept 22: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said Jammu and Kashmir’s tourist destinations should be developed according to their individual character and potential rather than replicating the Gulmarg model everywhere.
“Every tourist destination should have its own identity,” Omar said in the Assembly while responding to questions on tourism development.
“We cannot make every tourist destination Gulmarg,” he said, adding that the success of the Gulmarg Gondola did not mean similar projects would work equally well at every destination.
“Just because Gulmarg’s Gondola runs, it does not mean that gondolas will be equally successful everywhere,” he said.
“So repeatedly saying that give us a gondola because tourism will revive through a gondola, that is not correct,” Omar added.
He said the government would instead develop tourism products suited to individual destinations. “We should look at something different for every destination and promote it,” he said.
Jammu tourism push
Omar said the Tourism Department was pursuing a “comprehensive and multi-pronged approach” to develop and diversify tourism in Jammu, including pilgrimage, heritage, adventure, eco, nature, rural, cultural, wellness and leisure tourism.
The government has begun identifying new destinations and assessing their tourism potential in consultation with local stakeholders and the Revenue and Forest departments.
Adventure tourism, including skiing, has been introduced at Dhopa Pathri since 2023, while a drag lift became operational in 2026. The proposed Gondola cable car project at Godda 3 is under consideration.
Dood Pathri transit hub
The government has identified around 25 kanals of state land near the sheep farm at Kral Pathri for a proposed tourist transit hub and 400-car parking facility at Daud Pathri.
A ₹75-crore detailed project report has been submitted to the Union Tourism Ministry under Swadesh Darshan 2.0.
The government has also approved ₹50 lakh for wayside facilities at five locations along the Ariyam-to-Rearch stretch, with the works at the tendering stage.
Omar opposes blanket power amnesty
On power-bill amnesty, Omar said the government was examining the issue on merit but opposed repeatedly extending blanket waivers.
“I think repeatedly extending amnesty is an injustice to those people who pay their bills,” he said.
“You are incentivising people not to pay their bills on time,” Omar added.
He said consumers genuinely unable to pay, particularly those below the poverty line, could be considered individually.
“For those for whom amnesty is really necessary, and who genuinely live below the poverty line and do not have the ability to pay these bills, we will definitely consider them on merit,” he said.
