Kochi: The terrorist attack in Pahalgam crippled Jammu and Kashmir’s tourism industry, and the state is only now beginning to recover, said Tanvir Sadiq, chief spokesperson of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference and MLA of Zadibal constituency in J&K. Speaking to Onmanorama at the Kerala Urban Conclave, organised by Kerala government in Kochi on Thursday, he said the J&K's revival is fully dependent on the restoration of its statehood. 

“Pahalgam attack wiped out hundreds of crores in revenue and forced a flood of hotel cancellations. Imagine luxury hotels in Gulmarg slashing rates from ₹70,000 a night to just ₹20,000 in a desperate attempt to survive. We are picking up slowly to revival, but the road to revival is tied closely to politics,” he said.

The immediate restoration of statehood is crucial not just for boosting tourist confidence but also for ensuring effective governance. The current Union Territory setup, he said, leaves Kashmir with “dual power centres,” where the Lieutenant Governor controls the Home Department and the elected Chief Minister manages the rest. 

“A state like Kashmir cannot afford to have dual policies,” he said, adding that an elected government must have full authority to take decisions, especially in times of crisis. He pointed out that despite the historic voter turnout in the recent election, statehood has not yet been restored. With the Supreme Court set to hear the matter on October 8, Sadiq expressed hope that the mandate of the people would be respected and the issue resolved without further delay.

Sadiq also praised the resilience of the local population in the face of adversity. After the attack, he said, people condemned the violence and even opened their homes to visitors, sending a powerful message of welcome and security. “A sense of safety comes from the people themselves, and they are eager for tourism to return,” he said.

Meanwhile, he said that the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has taken visible steps to change the narrative. From ensuring the successful conduct of the Amarnath Yatra to personally travelling across the country to promote Kashmir, the government has been working to rebuild trust. While these measures have brought some improvement, Sadiq admitted that a full recovery will be a slow and difficult climb. For now, Jammu and Kashmir’s fight to win back tourists and restore its economic lifeline remains an uphill battle, he said.