Kashmir tourism boom: Vande Bharat, road trips fuel surge in short stays

New Delhi: The scenic Kashmir Valley is seeing an increase in tourist arrivals this summer, with enhanced road and rail connectivity attracting first-time visitors, weekend travellers and road trippers.

Hoteliers, tour operators and officials said the newly launched Vande Bharat Express has helped boost tourism in the valley, known for its mountains, lakes and tulip gardens.

With more personal vehicles entering the region, Srinagar is seeing traffic congestion in several areas. Heavy traffic is frequently reported along the city's iconic Boulevard Road, which overlooks Dal Lake. Tourists, tour operators, hoteliers, houseboat owners and officials - all cited the worsening traffic.


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The increase in tourist arrivals is also leading to a reduction in room rates.

Travel Pattern
"The rise in weekend tourism, along with a growing preference among visitors to drive their own cars, has led to traffic build-up along the Boulevard," said Syed Qamar Sajjad, director of tourism for Kashmir and managing director of the J&K Cable Car Corporation.

He, however, said that the administration is equipped to ensure smooth traffic movement.

Sajjad also pointed to a travel pattern gaining traction - several visitors arriving at the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra are now extending their trips to Kashmir, as Srinagar is only about a four-hour drive away.

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Official tourist arrival data for the season is yet to be compiled, he said. Many houseboat owners and hoteliers in Srinagar said that accommodations are nearly fully booked. However, some have had to lower their room rates to attract travellers seeking budget options and homestays.

"Last year, until the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, we were charging Rs 5,000 a night for a room. This time, although all my rooms are booked, I am charging around Rs 2,500-3,000 as tourists are spending much less," said Imran Nazir, a dentist-turned-hotelier who runs the 20-bed Cedrus Resorts near Srinagar airport.

Aijaz Ahmad Khan, owner of Paristan Resorts in Pahalgam, said, "Until the incident last year, we were charging Rs 8,000-9,000 per night in Pahalgam. This season, however, rates have come down to about Rs 5,500, as demand for high-end properties has softened." He said hotel occupancy in Srinagar is around 90%, while in Pahalgam it is slightly lower. "A large number of my guests have arrived in their own vehicles this season," said Khan.

Highlighting the increase in road trippers, Nazir said vehicles with registration plates from Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and even Gujarat are a common sight.

"We have parking space for four to five cars, but the congestion along the Dal Lake cannot be attributed to self-driven tourists alone," said Manzoor Ahmad Pakhtoon, a fourth-generation houseboat owner and chairman of the All Kashmir Houseboat Owners Association. "We also have to factor in occasional exhibitions and VVIP movement in the area."

There are over 800 houseboats spread across four locations - Dal Lake, Nigeen Lake, the Jhelum River and Chinar Bagh.

According to the Jammu and Kashmir Economic Survey 2025-26, the tourism sector contributes about 7% to the Union Territory's gross state domestic product and provides direct livelihood support to nearly 500,000 people.