Kashmir Must Move From Tourist Footfall to Lasting Value

Kashmir’s tourism boom is masking a deeper problem: success is still measured by sheer footfall rather than by economic value, resilience or ecological health. The article argues that the region must pivot from mass, sightseeing-based tourism to high-value, experience-driven travel that lengthens stays, boosts local spending and protects fragile mountain ecosystems. It calls for scientifically set carrying capacities, diversification beyond the Srinagar–Gulmarg–Pahalgam–Sonamarg circuit, and a four-season tourism identity built around authentic Kashmiri culture, crafts, cuisine and nature. Central to this shift is maximising local retention of tourist expenditure, strengthening infrastructure and human capital, and integrating tourism with horticulture, handicrafts, fisheries and rural livelihoods, all underpinned by security, political stability and better connectivity.