Cloudbursts, inclement weather stall tourism boom at Kashmir’s offbeat destinations

Srinagar, Aug 7: Repeated cloudbursts and prolonged spells of inclement weather have dealt a blow to tourism at Kashmir’s offbeat destinations, with visitor arrivals witnessing a sharp decline in recent weeks in areas such as Gurez, Keran, Sonamarg, Doodhpathri, Bangus Valley and other scenic locations.
Local residents and tourism stakeholders said that the adverse weather conditions, marked by frequent rainfall, flash floods, landslides and cloudbursts, have disrupted road connectivity and prompted many tourists to either cancel or postpone their travel plans.
According to official figures, the Kashmir has witnessed around 35 cloudbursts this year, triggering flash floods and damaging roads, bridges and other infrastructure in several districts.
In the picturesque Gurez Valley near the Line of Control (LoC), hoteliers and local residents said tourist arrivals have dropped considerably over the past few weeks.
“We had expected this season to be one of the best after the steady increase in tourist arrivals over the last few years. However, the continuous rains and reports of cloudbursts have discouraged visitors. Hotels that were nearly full are now witnessing low occupancy,” said Mushtaq Ahmad, a hotel owner in Gurez.
He said several tourists cancelled their bookings after news of weather-related incidents emerged from different parts of Kashmir.
In Keran, another emerging tourist destination in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, residents said businesses dependent on tourism have suffered losses.
“Most families here earn during the summer season through homestays, transport services and small eateries. The bad weather has reduced tourist footfall significantly, affecting our income,” said Shabir Ahmad, a resident of Keran.
Tour operators in Srinagar said inquiries from domestic tourists have slowed, particularly for offbeat destinations that require long road journeys.
“The concern is not just rainfall but uncertainty over road conditions. Tourists do not want to risk getting stranded because of landslides or road closures. Many are choosing to stay in Srinagar or Gulmarg instead of travelling to remote destinations,” said Fayaz Ahmad, a local tour operator.
The impact has also been felt in Sonamarg, where hoteliers and pony operators said the number of visitors has fallen compared to expectations for the peak tourist season.
“We were hoping for a busy August, but repeated weather advisories and intermittent road disruptions have affected business. Most tourists are making only day visits instead of staying overnight,” said Ghulam Nabi, a hotelier in Sonamarg.
Officials said restoration work is underway at affected locations, with road clearance and repair operations being carried out to ensure connectivity wherever weather conditions permit.
The Meteorological Department has forecast intermittent rainfall over the coming days and advised tourists and residents to remain cautious, particularly in vulnerable areas prone to landslides, flash floods and cloudbursts.
Tourism stakeholders expressed hope that an improvement in weather conditions would revive tourist arrivals during the remaining part of the summer season, especially to Kashmir’s lesser-known destinations that have emerged as popular attractions in recent years. (KNO)