Srinagar, Jul 09: Calling tourism without sustainability an “unqualified disaster”, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said Jammu and Kashmir must gradually shift from a volume-driven tourism model to a value-based tourism economy to ensure long-term growth and environmental protection.
Addressing the inaugural session of the Conclave on Sustainable Tourism Planning at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC), Omar said the future of tourism depends on planned development, environmental conservation and meaningful participation of local communities.
He said Jammu and Kashmir has reached a stage where it must decide whether to continue focusing on increasing tourist numbers or generate greater value through sustainable tourism. “If we do not build sustainability into tourism, it may survive for a few years, but it will not survive in the long run. Tourism without sustainability is an unqualified disaster,” he said.
The Chief Minister said the region remained dependent on volume tourism because of nearly three decades of conflict, during which attracting higher tourist footfall was essential to project normalcy. However, he said the time has now come to move beyond numbers.
Referring to last year’s security incident, Omar said it exposed the fragility of Kashmir’s tourism sector. “In March we were complaining about traffic jams, and in April there was hardly anyone. That reminded us how vulnerable tourism can be,” he said, adding that the renewed momentum should now be used to build a more resilient tourism economy.
He stressed that tourism planning must address practical challenges such as traffic management, parking facilities, waste disposal, water availability and scientific urban planning. He also criticised ad hoc decisions, saying policies introduced without consulting stakeholders often create inconvenience for tourists and service providers.
The Chief Minister called for scientific solid waste management, saying waste generation is linked not only to tourists but also to local residents. He also urged efforts to reduce single-use plastic and emphasised that environmental conservation requires behavioural change alongside government initiatives.
Expressing concern over increasing water scarcity, Omar said sustainable tourism cannot exist without proper water management. He also highlighted the need for strict enforcement of master plans, saying selective implementation only creates resentment among local communities.
Omar said tourism policies and master plans should be prepared in consultation with local stakeholders and based on the carrying capacity of destinations. “Our destinations must continue earning from tourism without suffering because of tourism,” he said.
Describing Jammu and Kashmir’s natural beauty as its greatest tourism asset, the Chief Minister said environmental conservation must remain central to future tourism policies. “We are not Disneyland or Dubai. All we have is our natural beauty, and that is exactly what we must preserve,” he said.
He also advocated value tourism over mass tourism, citing destinations such as Bhutan and the Maldives, and said the government’s responsibility is to create infrastructure that enables people to earn more from tourism while protecting the environment.
