Tourism Collapse in Kashmir After Pahalgam Attack: Why Parliament Must Rise in Solidarity

Tourism Collapse in Kashmir After Pahalgam Attack: Why Parliament Must Rise in Solidarity

Kashmir’s Tourism Crisis After Pahalgam Attack: A Call for National Solidarity from Parliament By: Javid Amin | Srinagar | 03 July 2025 When Silence Becomes a Second Attack The air in Kashmir is quieter now—not because of peace, but because the usual hum of tourists has disappeared. The houseboats that once rocked gently under the laughter of honeymooners lie deserted. Hotels that thrived on group bookings now face cancellation after cancellation. Taxi drivers, pony owners, and local artisans stare at empty streets, waiting for a visitor who never arrives. This…

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KCCI Welcomes J&K Bank’s ‘Karz Se Mukti’ Extension: A Lifeline for Businesses Amid Economic Distress

Karz Se Mukti: J&K Bank’s Lifeline for Kashmir’s Business Sector Gets a Much-Needed Extension

Karz Se Mukti: J&K Bank’s Lifeline for Kashmir’s Business Sector Gets a Much-Needed Extension By: Javid Amin | Srinagar | 02 July 2025 A Valley in Economic Recovery Mode In a region as volatile and economically fragile as Jammu and Kashmir, every policy decision can have sweeping consequences for its struggling business ecosystem. One such decision—a two-month extension of the “Karz Se Mukti” scheme by Jammu & Kashmir Bank—is more than just a deadline shift. It is a lifeline, a gesture of trust, and a bridge between temporary despair and…

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Omar Abdullah Champions Kashmir Tourism Revival at SKICC: Project SPREAD, MICE Tourism, and Infrastructure Expansion Highlighted

Omar Abdullah Champions Kashmir Tourism Revival at SKICC: Project SPREAD, MICE Tourism, and Infrastructure Expansion Highlighted

Omar Abdullah Unveils Bold Tourism Revival Vision for Kashmir By: Javid Amin | Srinagar  In a landmark address at the Jammu & Kashmir Tourism Revival Dialogue held at SKICC Srinagar, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah delivered a rousing call to action, reaffirming his government’s commitment to making Kashmir India’s premier tourist destination. With the serene Dal Lake in the backdrop and SKICC brimming with hoteliers, tour operators, travel influencers, and international delegates, Omar reflected on the emotional turbulence the region has weathered—particularly the tragic Pahalgam attack in April that disrupted tourism…

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KCCI Delegation Meets LG Manoj Sinha: Calls for Tourism Revival, Economic Relief, and Communal Harmony in Jammu and Kashmir

KCCI Delegation Meets LG Manoj Sinha: Calls for Tourism Revival, Economic Relief, and Communal Harmony in Jammu and Kashmir

KCCI Meets LG Manoj Sinha: Urgent Economic Issues, Tourism Revival, and Communal Harmony Discussed in Detail Srinagar | 26 June 2025 In a significant development for Jammu and Kashmir’s economic and social landscape, a high-level delegation from the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), led by its President Javid Ahmad Tenga, met with the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor Shri Manoj Sinha at Raj Bhawan Srinagar today. The meeting marked a crucial step in articulating the region’s pressing economic concerns, advocating for a smooth Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra, calling for a…

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Karz Se Mukti or a Deeper Debt Trap? KCCI Urges J&K Bank to Extend Loan Settlement Deadline Amid Economic Setback

Karz Se Mukti or a Deeper Debt Trap? KCCI Urges J&K Bank to Extend Loan Settlement Deadline Amid Economic Setback

Kashmir Business Body Urges Bank to Extend Debt Relief Deadline After Pahalgam Crisis Srinagar | 24 June 2025 As the clock ticks down toward the June-end repayment deadline of Jammu and Kashmir Bank’s “Karz Se Mukti” One-Time Settlement (OTS) Scheme, anxiety looms large over hundreds of Valley-based business owners. Many say they simply don’t have the cash flow to meet the bank’s requirement—through no fault of their own. In a strongly worded appeal, the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has urged Jammu and Kashmir Bank to extend the…

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Amarnath Yatra Helicopter Ban Sparks Concern: CM Omar Abdullah Warns of ‘Wrong Message’ to the Nation

Amarnath Yatra Helicopter Ban Sparks Concern: CM Omar Abdullah Warns of ‘Wrong Message’ to the Nation

First Time in Years: Helicopter Service for Amarnath Yatra Curtailed Srinagar | June 17, 2025 – In a development that has stirred both public sentiment and political debate, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has raised serious concerns over the sudden ban on helicopter services for the Amarnath Yatra 2025, stating that it sends a “wrong message” to the rest of the country. The restriction marks a significant departure from previous years, where air access to the cave shrine had become an essential mode of transport for pilgrims, especially…

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A Lifeline Reborn: The Katra‑Srinagar Rail Link That’s Redefining Kashmir Travel

A Lifeline Reborn: The Katra‑Srinagar Rail Link That’s Redefining Kashmir Travel

Katra–Srinagar Rail Link Inaugurated: Kashmir’s Tourism and Economy Poised for Revival June 9, 2025, Reasi/Srinagar — Prime Minister Narendra Modi ceremonially inaugurated the world’s highest railway arch bridge, the Chenab Bridge, as part of the 272 km Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), officially opening the first-ever direct rail connection between the Kashmir Valley and the rest of India . Simultaneously, the brand-new Vande Bharat Express service between Katra and Srinagar began commercial operations on June 7. Chenab Bridge: India’s Engineering Crown Jewel Constructed with more than 30,000 tonnes of steel, the 1,315 m long Chenab Bridge…

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Vande Bharat Express in Kashmir: A New Era of Speed, Unity & Prosperity

Vande Bharat Express in Kashmir: A New Era of Speed, Unity & Prosperity

The Arrival of a Dream – On Time, On Track, On Purpose In a moment etched in the annals of India’s transport and infrastructure history, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to flag off the first-ever Vande Bharat Express from Katra to Srinagar, officially inaugurating the completion of the Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project. More than just a train launch, this is a symbol of integration, hope, and opportunity for a region long hindered by geographic isolation, political volatility, and underdevelopment. “This train is not just a machine on tracks,”…

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Kashmir Tourism Set to Soar Again: WTTC CEO Backs Revival With Confidence

Kashmir Tourism Set to Soar Again: WTTC CEO Backs Revival With Confidence

Global Travel Leaders Eye Kashmir’s Comeback in 2025 and Beyond A Valley of Promise Amid Adversity Kashmir, often referred to as “Paradise on Earth”, is once again in the spotlight — not for its political troubles or the tragic attack in Pahalgam on April 22, but for a strong signal of revival and resilience. Julia Simpson, President & CEO of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), has voiced strong optimism for the return of tourism in Kashmir. Despite the headwinds caused by recent events, Simpson remains bullish about the…

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Fields of Change: How Horticulture is Thriving Amid Shrinking Farmlands in Jammu & Kashmir

Fields of Change: How Horticulture is Thriving Amid Shrinking Farmlands in Jammu & Kashmir

A Silent Shift in Kashmir’s Rural Landscape Srinagar 02 June 2025: While the lush paddy fields of Jammu and Kashmir are slowly vanishing under the weight of urban sprawl and economic shifts, a quiet revolution is taking root—horticulture is not just surviving; it’s expanding. In a region historically known for its rice bowls and saffron fields, a fundamental restructuring of rural priorities is underway. As traditional agriculture recedes, fruit cultivation is rising, not only as a lifeline for rural incomes but also as a cornerstone of Jammu and Kashmir’s evolving…

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