PM Narendra Modi complimented the people of Jammu and Kashmir for their warmth and hospitality

Jammu & Kashmir has seen a footfall of 1.62 crore (16.2 million) tourists since January this year - the highest in the last 75 years.

Releasing the figure on Friday, Jammu & Kashmir's Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) tweeted that this record number is testimony to the "change and development" that is happening.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his happiness at this development. Quoting the tweet from DIPR, he wrote, "Wonderful news! Compliments to the people of Jammu and Kashmir for their warmth and hospitality."

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal also highlighted this achievement.

"Kashmir coming alive! J&K witnessed record footfall of 1.62 Crore tourists since January 2022, the highest in 75 years of Independence.

Modi Govt’s transformative initiatives & reforms to uplift J&K have given a major thrust to tourism in the state," Goyal tweeted.

The data on tourists was released a day after Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited Jammu & Kashmir and declared that it was changing from a "terrorist hotspot" to a "tourist hotspot" as a result of the actions of the government administration. In support of this claim, Shah noted that the Valley formerly only saw up to 6 lakh visitors annually, but that number has since risen to over 22 lakhs.

According to an official statement, a record-breaking 20.5 lakh tourists—including 3.65 lakh Amarnath pilgrims—visited Kashmir in the first eight months of 2022.

Popular tourist destinations like Pahalgam, Gulmarg, and Sonamarg also enjoyed 100% occupancy in their resorts and guesthouses. After more than three decades, it was seen as the return of the golden period of Kashmir tourism.

The statistics have demonstrated an encouraging rise that creates jobs for people in an area that depends heavily on the tourism industry.

According to the J&K administration, the tourism sector is being developed as per the vision of sustainable development goals. Attention is being given to strengthen the hospitality segment & for establishing a robust tourism infrastructure.