A view of the snow-covered area on the first day of the year, in Gulmarg, on January 1, 2026.
| Photo Credit: PTI
After an eight-month long lull, New Year’s eve saw a surge in tourist numbers in Kashmir and the tourism “golden triangle” of Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonmarg logged in a record of 90-100% hotel occupancy.
Official figures of the Tourism department suggested that Gulmarg with 2,300 beds in hotels and huts was sold out on December 31 with 100% occupancy. Sonamarg, with 2,580 beds, also recorded 100% occupancy.
“Pahalgam with around 10,000 beds also saw 90% hotel occupancy. At least 5,000 tourists arrived in Pahalgam on December 31. Later, Pahalgam hosted around 7,000 tourists,” a senior government official told The Hindu.
Top local artists and singers from Kashmir, including Indian Idol icon Qazi Tauqeer, performed at the musical evenings held for tourists in all these destinations.
“There was a good response to the winter festival that started on December 25. Tourist footfall has increased significantly and is evident from the buzz in Pahalgam,” said Nasrool Hilal Jeri, Chief Executive Officer, Pahalgam Development Authority.
It is for the first time since the Pahalgam terror attack, which left 26 tourists dead in April last year, that the Kashmir valley recorded a bustling tourist season.
The New Year has augured well for the tourism industry of Kashmir. “We are hopeful the current momentum will sustain and even pick up further. We urge tourists to plan a visit to Kashmir and take up adventurous sports like skiing in winters,” said Syed Qamar Sajad, Director, Tourism. He said the icing on the cake is that the Tourism department was bidding farewell to 2025 on a very positive note.
Kashmir hosted only around 10.47 lakh domestic tourists in 2025 compared to around 26 lakh tourists in 2024, according to the Tourism department.
Published – January 01, 2026 09:34 pm IST
