Srinagar, June 21: The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) highlighted tourism as a powerful instrument for peacebuilding, employment generation, cultural preservation and sustainable development during the Srinagar-Nalanda Dialogue 2026, which was inaugurated by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and brought together policymakers, academics, tourism experts, literary personalities and civil society representatives.
Speaking during a panel discussion on the theme “Tourism as a Bridge: Reimagining Peace & Governance in Kashmir,” KCCI Secretary General Faiz Ahmad Bakshi underlined the transformative role of tourism in fostering peace, economic opportunity, cultural preservation and inclusive growth across Jammu & Kashmir.
Bakshi said Srinagar’s inclusion in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in 2021 and its recognition as a World Crafts City by the World Crafts Council in 2024 reflected the city’s rich heritage, craftsmanship and living cultural traditions.
Drawing attention to the globally significant fossil repository at Guryul Ravine, Bakshi said the site contains one of the world’s most complete geological records of the Permian-Triassic extinction event. He observed that Kashmir had lost an opportunity for international recognition of the site due to the absence of peace and stability in previous decades. He sought the support of Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor, tourism authorities and civil servants for the protection, development and promotion of a Fossil Park at the site, saying it had the potential to attract large numbers of domestic and foreign tourists, researchers and scientists.
Tracing the evolution of Kashmir’s tourism sector, Bakshi recalled that the region attracted around 7.81 lakh tourists, including nearly 87,000 foreign visitors, in 1988 before years of turmoil disrupted the sector’s growth. He said tourism had witnessed a remarkable revival, with tourist arrivals reaching nearly 30 lakh in 2024, reflecting renewed global interest in Kashmir’s natural beauty, culture and hospitality.
Highlighting the expansion of tourism infrastructure, Bakshi said Jammu & Kashmir currently has 4,622 accommodation units, including hotels, guest houses, homestays and houseboats, providing nearly 39,769 rooms and more than 79,500 beds. Referring to the rapid growth of homestays, he said the model had helped democratise tourism by directly linking visitors with local communities, generating household incomes and encouraging cultural exchange at the grassroots level.
Describing tourism as a social ecosystem rather than merely an economic sector, Bakshi stressed its potential to address youth unemployment and create sustainable livelihoods. Citing official statistics showing an unemployment rate of 32.8 per cent among people aged between 15 and 29 years, he advocated the promotion of rural tourism, heritage destinations, craft clusters and eco-tourism circuits to generate employment, strengthen community-based income generation and support environmental conservation.
Emphasising the importance of culture and sustainability in governance, Bakshi invoked the teachings of Lal Ded and Sheikh-ul-Alam, describing them as enduring guides for balancing development, human well-being and ecological preservation. He called for a development model rooted in culture, sustainability and inclusivity, enabling Srinagar to emerge as a model city where heritage and modernity coexist.
Addressing the Dialogue, Shashi Tharoor highlighted the immense potential of tourism in a region endowed with extraordinary natural beauty, rich cultural heritage and warm hospitality. He described tourism as a powerful bridge for peace, understanding and economic opportunity and called for renewed efforts to revive and strengthen tourism in Kashmir.
Among those present were Karan Singh, Shafi Shauq, Suman Billa, Niteshwar Kumar, Additional Secretary, Government of India, Siddharth Singh, Chittaranjan Tripathy, D. Aaliya, Chairperson, Nalanda Literature Festival, Ganga Kumar, Festival Director, A. Ravinder Nath, Nilofer Khan, Dr. G.V. Sundeep Chakravarthy, SSP Srinagar, Akshay Labroo, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Athar Amir Khan, Deputy Commissioner Budgam, Ms. Idrissa Qadri, besides senior officials, academics, literary personalities, students, prominent citizens and youth.
