In recent decades, tourism has shown its potential by becoming the fastest-growing sector, contributing about 9% to the world’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). A vacation spot popular with tourists all over the world is Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), also known as the “Paradise on Earth.” It includes Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh. All of these areas are well known for having great tourism potential worldwide.
Nearly 50–60% of J&K’s total population is thought to be involved in tourism-related activities directly or indirectly. Approximately 15% of the state’s GDP comes from tourism. As a catalyst for the region’s economic development, J&K leverage its rich heritage and culture, outstanding hospitality, and stunning landscape, among other factors.
Jammu, also known as the “City Of Temples” is an essential destination for pilgrimage tourism. Kashmir is known for its natural beauty and landscape, pleasant weather, and rich heritage and has been one of the most preferred tourist destinations for centuries. It provides opportunities for Eco-tourism, Adventure tourism, Pilgrimage tourism and Medical tourism. As a world-renowned adventure tourism destination, Ladakh, commonly referred to as the “Moon on Earth”, is known for its barren peaks and terrain.
Tourism holds a strategic place in J&K’s economy by providing economic benefits like Employment, Foreign Exchange, Infrastructure development and development of local industries like Handicrafts and Handlooms, which has always placed J&K in the limelight at the national as well as international levels.
Tourism And Economic Development In J&K
Jammu also referred to as the “City of Temples,” is a popular place for pilgrimage travel. Kashmir has long been one of the most popular tourist destinations because of its stunning natural scenery, comfortable climate, and rich history. Ecotourism, Adventure tourism, Pilgrimage tourism, and Medical Tourism all have potential and are untapped till now. Ladakh, also known as the “Moon on Earth,” is a well-known destination for adventure tourism because of its arid peaks and landscape.
By generating economic benefits like employment, foreign exchange, infrastructure development, and the growth of regional industries like handicrafts and handlooms, tourism plays a crucial role in the economy of J&K and keeps the region prominent both nationally and internationally. The highest number of tourists to visit J&K since January 2022 was 1.62 crore according to the Govt sources.
Tourism and Employment Generation
With great potential to grow further in the upcoming decades, tourism has a significant historical contribution to employment generation. With its abundance of pilgrimage, leisure, heritage, and eco-tourism destinations, J&K has the potential to transform its entire economy into one; that is driven by tourism, creating jobs in the process. Due to its labour-intensive nature, this industry has a large potential for creating jobs and requires less investment than other economic sectors. As a multi-segment industry in J&K, tourism offers a variety of jobs, including those for hotel managers, tour guides, tour operators, chefs, etc., which further boosts the state’s economy by raising residents’ incomes and standards of living.
Bottomline
For the J&K economy, tourism has been a significant source of economic growth for many years, and it will continue to be so in the future. The expansion of the tourism sector in J&K will improve economic indicators like employment, income, infrastructure, and competition, which will encourage the entry of new products into the market and, in turn, result in better services and greater satisfaction for state residents as a whole.
