Rehan Qayoom Mir
Srinagar, Oct 6: After a subdued summer tourist season following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which left 26 civilians, mostly tourists dead, October snowfall has rekindled hopes about visitors returning to Kashmir in winter season.
Stakeholders exuded hope that the early snowfall would pave the way for a bumper winter tourism season and boost arrivals in the coming weeks.
President of the Shikara Association, Wali Mohammad said, “The change in weather has renewed our hopes. The tourist footfall hasn’t increased yet, but snowfall in the upper reaches will definitely encourage visitors to return to the Valley. We are hopeful about our industry getting a boost in coming days.”
Manzoor Pakhtoon, President of the Houseboat Association, said it is too early to predict the overall impact but remained positive about the coming months. “As the news of snowfall spreads, tourists will start planning their trips. It will take around a month to see how the season shapes up,” he said.
Houseboat owners along the Dal and Nigeen lakes too are hopeful. “We have started receiving inquiries from domestic tourists, especially families and newly-wed couples, who want to experience Kashmir’s winter beauty,” said Ghulam Rasool, a houseboat owner in Dal Lake.
He added once the snowfall intensifies, bookings are expected to rise.
Tour and travel operators said that a there is a little uptick in demand, with many expecting an increase in bookings once the weather stabilizes. “We have seen little increase in inquiries from states like Gujarat, Maharashtra and West Bengal in the last few days. Many tourists are waiting for updates on snowfall before finalizing their plans,” said Altaf Ahmad, a Srinagar-based travel agent.
He shared if conditions remain favourable, this winter could turn out to be the good seasons again.
Hoteliers too are hopeful about a busy season ahead. “Winter is a special time for Kashmir tourism and early snowfall is always a good sign. Our bookings for December and January are empty as-off now but expect occupancy to rise steadily once snow reaches lower areas,” said another hotelier from Srinagar.
Meanwhile, an official said that from April to September this year as many as 5,64039 tourists visited Pahalgam. “The numbers declined after the April 22 terror attack but increased gradually,” he said.
While giving the breakup the official said, 2,08122 domestic, 2864 foreign and 3,53053 tourists visited Pahalgam in the past six months.
Officials said, “August and September months saw a positive trend as more than 3000 foreign tourists arrived in the Valley.”
They said that Jammu and Kashmir recorded 19,570 foreign tourist visits between January–June 2025 and over 95 lakh domestic visits in the same period. “The fresh inflow of foreign tourists comes months after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which had dealt a severe blow to Kashmir’s tourism industry. The attack led to widespread cancellations, emergency return flights, and a short-term collapse in bookings for outdoor sites closely associated with the incident,” the officials added.
The early snowfall came as a delightful surprise for tourists from across the country, many of whom were first-time visitors to Gulmarg. They expressed joy at seeing the famous ski resort blanketed in snow, transforming it into a breathtaking white wonderland. “We weren’t expecting snowfall in October. It feels magical — I’m so lucky to witness it”, said an elated tourist while enjoying the snow-covered slopes.
A couple from Kolkata, visiting Kashmir for the first time, while sharing their excitement told KNO that they had visited Pahalgam and Sonamarg earlier during their trip but found Gulmarg to be unmatched in its charm and beauty. “The scenic beauty is breathtaking. People here are warm and cooperative. It’s our fourth day in Kashmir, and we haven’t felt any security concerns. Everything is well-organized”, said Yashfi.
Praising the world-famous Gondola services, the duo said the experience was beyond words. “The view from Phase II is absolutely mesmerizing. There are no words to describe it. We wish everyone to visit and experience this beauty”, they added.
Similarly, a tourist, Arun Kumar from Haryana, said the experience lived up to Kashmir’s reputation.
“We always heard people call Kashmir ‘Paradise on Earth’. Today, we truly witnessed it. The unexpected snowfall made our trip unforgettable”, he said.
Tourists at Gulmarg widely hailed the hospitality, administration and security arrangements, describing their stay as “safe, smooth and heartwarming”.
Besides hundreds of tourists enjoying the Gondola rides, an official of the Jammu and Kashmir Cable Car Corporation (JKCCC) said, the chairlift joyride added to the attraction with over 400 visitors availing the service on Sunday alone, following successful safety trials.
“We are witnessing an encouraging response from tourists. All safety protocols are in place, and our staff is working round the clock to ensure a comfortable experience for visitors. The snowfall has brought a positive boost to tourism in Gulmarg and we expect the flow to increase further in the coming weeks”, a senior JKCCC official said.
