The lockdowns imposed due to Covid-19 spelled doom for the travel industry across the globe. The Coronavirus pandemic hit India towards the culmination of 2019, and from March 2020, lockdowns and travel restrictions were implemented at several places throughout the country. States that relied heavily on tourism as a business sector suffered during this time, as the number of travellers suddenly dwindled in the entire 2020 and a part of 2021. Jammu and Kashmir, where travel industry is a major business, was one such place.
Tourism in Kashmir was negatively affected by the lockdown and travel-related restrictions. As the pandemic was spreading fast, the administration at the national and state levels had to take strict measures for restricting the movement of people within and outside the country, which is why the number of visitors coming to J&K dropped by huge numbers. Prior to the pandemic, Jammu and Kashmir welcomed tourists from India as well as abroad, but after the Covid-triggered lockdown, it received hardly any local or international tourists and J&K’s economy that was heavily dependent on travel, was hampered.
Recently, as the spread of coronavirus reduced and travel restrictions across the globe were relaxed, there has been a consistent rise in J&K tours. With all the necessary precautions and checks at entry points, Jammu and Kashmir has once again started greeting much more visitors as compared to the last two years.
In December 2020, over 13000 tourists visited Kashmir, which meant an 88% rise in the number of travellers as compared to those in December 2019. Jammu greeted over 4 lakh tourists. Kashmir received 89 foreign travellers. From June 2020 to December 2020, the number of tourists in J&K had grown from 1935 to 4.8 lakh, which was indeed a phenomenal rise. Between Christmas and New Year, numerous visitors came to Kashmir to experience snowfall and to Jammu to visit the Vaishno Devi temple.
In December 2019, around 7000 visitors came to Kashmir and the number dropped to as low as 284 in August 2020. The number of visitors rose steadily thereafter, crossing 13,000 in December 2020. In comparison to 2020, January 2021 saw a five-time rise in the tourist arrivals, according to culture minister Prahlad Patel. In January 2020, 3700 people came to Jammu and Kashmir, but when the lockdown was lifted, the number of tourists increased to 19,000 in January 2021. 26 films were shot in the region during that time.
Various roadshows and campaigns were organized by the Kashmir government to promote J&K tourism, and everyone working in the tourism sector were vaccinated against Covid on priority. These initiatives taken after the second wave of Coronavirus, were instrumental in providing impetus to the travel industry in Jammu and Kashmir. 2021 is believed to have been one of those years when J&K witnessed the highest footfall in decades. Tweets by influential people like Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, also had a great impact in boosting J&K tourism. Through their statements on social media, they urged visitors to come to J&K to attend various festivals and carnivals, experience the beauty of tulips and the warmth and hospitality of the people there. This definitely encouraged many local and international tourists to visit Jammu and Kashmir.
The conditions for the tourism sector in J&K were getting better in 2021, just when there was a surge in the spread of coronavirus and people once again preferred to avoid traveling to Kashmir. There are reports of several hotel bookings getting cancelled in the recent past. Due to restrictions imposed and with the fear of getting infected with coronavirus, many people are refraining from tourism and preferring to stay in their native places. This has once again started affecting the travel trend in J&K.
The hotel occupancy in this region has greatly reduced, and hotel and resort owners are receiving almost 50-60 cancellations each day. Most visitors to J&K come from major cities in India like Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and others, but due to the rising spread of coronavirus in these cities, the number of tourists is once again on the decline. As time passes, the J&K tourism trends may change for the better and towards the later part of 2022, the number of travellers may rise again.
Jammu and Kashmir has always been among the most preferred vacation destinations for all types of travellers. It serves as a good place for a romantic vacation for couples and it’s also popular as a family retreat. Owing to its scenic beauty, it is a dream destination for photographers and a great location for shooting films. Adventure lovers visit J&K for trekking the Himalayas and indulging in extreme sports. Those fond of art and history visit J&K for the beautiful ancient monuments here, and people travel in groups or solo to immerse in the natural beauty of this place.
With three pandemic lockdowns in the last three years, the tourism in Kashmir has received a major setback. After the revocation of Article 370, there was a steady rise in J&K tours. With the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, as lockdowns began to be imposed everywhere, the number of tourists coming to J&K started reducing. In 2021, when the intensity of the pandemic lowered and lockdowns and travel bans were lifted, Jammu and Kashmir started welcoming a good number of travellers. However, now as 2022 has just begun, there is a rise in the spread of Covid-19 and a consequent dip in the tourism sector of J&K. Today, many travel buffs around the world may be looking for an opportunity to visit Jammu and Kashmir, and the tourism fraternity in J&K is awaiting a brighter future for their industry.
