JK Bets on Skiing to Drive Winter Tourism Boom

Suhail Khan

 

Srinagar, Jan 06: The start of new year 2026 has signalled a robust revival of tourism in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly with recent snowfall transforming the world-famous resort of Gulmarg into a winter wonderland. In a move to capitalise on this momentum and elevate the Kashmir’s status as a premier winter sports hub, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah virtually inaugurated a 14-day Integrated Ski Training Course on Tuesday.

 

During the inauguration, Chief Minister Abdullah as per Kashmir Convener stated that the program, spanning iconic locations including Gulmarg, Sonamarg, and Doodhpathri, will focus on imparting foundational skiing skills such as gliding, snow ploughing, and turns. He emphasised that the initiative aims to provide certified basic training to approximately 500-600 students aged 12 to 18 this year, while simultaneously invigorating winter tourism across the Kashmir Valley.

 

In a parallel event at the Civil Secretariat in the winter capital, Jammu, Chief Minister Abdullah as per this newspaper unveiled the 2026 calendars for the Tourism Department and the Jammu & Kashmir Cable Car Corporation. He described these publications as “visual narratives of J&K’s natural beauty and evolving tourism infrastructure,” highlighting their role in promoting the Kahsmir’s unparalleled potential through stunning imagery of its destinations, cultural heritage, and tourism infrastructure.

 

On the same occasion, the Chief Minister launched the official website of the Directorate of Tourism, Kashmir. This modern portal is designed to publicise events and destinations, maintain digital archives, and offer comprehensive tourism-related information. It integrates links to allied organisations, creating a single-window platform for tourists and stakeholders. Abdullah stressed the critical importance of a robust digital presence, noting the website will serve as an informative and user-friendly resource to enhance outreach.

 

Earlier this week, Syed Qamar Sajad, Director of Tourism for Kashmir speaking with Kashmir Convener highlighted the positive trend, stating, “Tourism recovery is progressing at an encouraging pace, with a steadily increasing influx of visitors from across the country.”

 

These combined initiatives underscore the government’s commitment to sustainable tourism growth, youth skill development in winter sports, and leveraging technology to showcase Jammu & Kashmir’s enduring allure as a year-round destination.

 

Another senior tourism official told Kashmir Convener that the first training batches are currently underway in Gulmarg and Sonamarg, with 32 and 25 trainees respectively. “This marks the start of a broader rollout designed to nurture young talent and position these destinations prominently on national and international skiing maps,” the official stated. He added that the recent snowfall has restored Gulmarg’s status as a winter wonderland, and further snowfall in the coming weeks is expected to enhance its charm and appeal significantly.

 

“The rush of tourists has been encouraging, and we anticipate it will increase further with the launch of these skiing initiatives,” the official said.

 

This concerted push comes as tourism in the Kashmir Valley shows a strong recovery following a challenging period in 2025, with Gulmarg re-establishing itself as the Kahsmir’s premier destination.