Srinagar, Sep 22: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said the government cannot replicate the Gulmarg model at every tourist destination across Jammu and Kashmir, saying there was a need to develop each destination according to its distinct attractions and tourism potential.
Replying to a question raised by MLA Saifuddn Bhat during the ongoing autumn session of the J&K Legislative Assembly, CM Omar, who is the minister incharge of Tourism Department said merely installing gondolas at different destinations would not automatically boost tourism.
“Every tourist destination has its own identity. We cannot make every tourist destination Gulmarg,” he informed the House.
The CM said the success of the Gulmarg Gondola could not be taken as a guarantee that similar projects would achieve the same results elsewhere.
“We have two gondolas operating in J&K. One is at Gulmarg and another at Patnitop. But if you look at the ridership, the number of people using the Patnitop Gondola is lower compared to Gulmarg,” he said.
CM Omar said repeated demands for cable car projects as a means of reviving tourism at different destinations were not necessarily justified.
“Just because the Gulmarg Gondola is successful does not mean gondolas will be equally successful everywhere,” he said, adding that the government needed to identify “something unique” for each destination and promote it accordingly.
On the proposed cable car project at Doodhpathri, the CM said the proposal was currently under consideration and would be taken up subject to approval by the competent authority, completion of requisite formalities, and availability of funds.
He said Doodhpathri had its own tourism potential, particularly in winter adventure tourism, and the government was working to build a distinct identity for the destination rather than replicate the tourism model of Gulmarg, Pahalgam, or Sonamarg.
“Doodhpathri may have something different from Gulmarg, Pahalgam, and Sonamarg. We have to focus on that,” CM Omar said.
He informed the House that the government would undertake measures to promote Doodhpathri and establish its own identity.
The CM said skiing was introduced at Doodhpathri by the Tourism Department in 2023 and it continued during subsequent winter seasons.
“A drag lift was also constructed and made operational in 2026 to facilitate skiing training and other winter adventure activities,” he told the House.
CM Omar said the Tourism Department had identified State land at five locations along the Arigam-ReyarIch stretch for developing wayside facilities for visitors and local vendors.
“Administrative approval for the facilities has been accorded at an estimated cost of Rs 50 lakh and the works are currently at the tendering stage,” he said.
The CM said the government has also identified around 25 kanal of state land near the sheep farm at Kralpathri for a proposed tourist transit hub and 400-car parking facility at Doodhpathri.
“A Detailed Project Report for the Rs 75-crore facility under the SwadeshDarshan Scheme 2.0 has been submitted to the Union Ministry of Tourism for consideration and approval. The facility is aimed at regulating vehicular movement and reducing traffic pressure at the destination,” he said.
On tourism development in Khan Sahab, CM Omar said the Tourism Department had begun identifying and assessing areas with tourism potential for future development.
He said site visits were conducted, in consultation with local stakeholders besides the Revenue and Forest Department officials, to Pushker, Shoplian, Nowgam, Drung, Habber, Banglapathri, and Palmasidan to assess their tourism potential and the feasibility of creating tourism infrastructure.
“Suitable sites would be considered for inclusion in future tourism development plans subject to tourism potential, availability of land and fulfilment of statutory and administrative requirements,” the CM informed the House.
He said the government was pursuing a multi-pronged strategy to diversify tourism in Jammu division by developing existing destinations, opening up new and emerging destinations, and promoting Jammu as a year-round tourism destination.
CM Omar said the strategy covered pilgrimage, heritage, adventure, eco, nature, rural, cultural, wellness, and leisure tourism.
He said that major destinations where interventions have been initiated include Suchetgarh, Shiv Khori, Sudhmahadev, Patnitop, Basholi, Bhaderwah and Gatha, Mansar, Baradari, Kesari Hills and Behra and Qasab.
“The government is also focusing on pilgrimage circuits, with five circuits sanctioned under the 2020-21 Capex Plan. These include Mansar, Shiv Khori, Utterbehni, Purmandal and Sukrala circuits,” the CM said.
He said the Tourism Department has also stepped up promotional activities, participating in national and international tourism events and festivals to widen the reach of Jammu and Kashmir’s tourism products.
“The approved budget for tourism-related development activities in Jammu division increased from Rs 56.50 crore in 2023-24 to Rs 61.15 crore in 2024-25 and Rs 62.85 crore in 2025-26,” CM Omar informed the House.
He said the broader objective was to develop diverse tourism products, decongest established destinations, and ensure that tourism-generated economic activity reached newer destinations and local communities.
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