In one month number comes down to 138372 as compared to last year
ARVIND SHARMA
Jammu Tawi, Feb 21: Despite all out efforts by the government to promote tourism in the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) there has been a sharp decline in the number of tourists visiting various tourist destinations of the
Jammu region in the first month of this year as compared to the last year.
The Government of J&K UT has designated 29 tourist destinations across the Jammu region in all the ten districts of Jammu and the main being the Vaishno Devi, Patnitop, Shiv Khori in Reasi, Shahadra Sharief in Rajouri, Sannasar, Bhaderwah, Sudhmahade, Surinsar, Mansar, Kishtwar and others.
The official figures accessed exclusively by the Northlines reveal that the total number of tourists visiting various tourist destinations of Jammu region has declined sharply in the first month of 2026 as compared to the first month of last year.
In 2025, a total of 1404626 tourists visited 29 designated tourist destinations across the Jammu region in January 2025. Among these were 1404297 were the domestic tourists, while 329 were the foreigners.
However, there was a sharp decline in the number of tourists visiting various destinations of Jammu region in January this year. In January this year, a total of 1266254 tourists visited various tourist destinations of Jammu region in the first month of this.
Among these were 1265831 the domestic tourists, while 423 were the foreigners, who visited different tourist destinations of Jammu region, the official figures revealed.
As per the official figures, the tourist footfall witnessed a sharp decline of 138372 tourists this year in January this year as compared to January of last year.
It may be mentioned here that majority of tourists visit Jammu region’s various tourist destinations to enjoy snowfall as also to pay obeisance at the holy Shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine.
As per the official figures, the famous tourist spot Patnitop witnessed sharp decline in tourist footfall in January as compared to last year, while the tourists’ footfall at Mata Vaishno Devi witnessed sharp rise.
In 2025, a total of 568835 tourists/pilgrims paid obeisance at Mata Vaishno Devi Shrin in January last year including 324 foreigners. However, in 2026 January, a total of 698899 tourists/pilgrims paid obeisance at Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in January this year.
However, the famous tourist spot of Jammu region i.e Patnitop witnessed a steep decline in tourist footfall in January this year as compared to January of 2025.
In January 2025, a total of 120498 tourists visited the famous Patnitop in Jammu region but this figure came down manifold in January this year as a mere 30328 tourists visited Patnitop in January this year.
