Despite facing a series of severe challenges—including Pak-sponsored terror attacks, Operation Sindoor, and unprecedented rains and flash floods—the Jammu Division of Jammu and Kashmir has recorded a remarkable tourist footfall of over 1.47 crore visitors, including nearly 12,900 foreign tourists, this year.
The tourism sector in the region remained under pressure throughout 2025. The Pahalgam terror attack in April, followed by heightened Indo-Pak tensions during Operation Sindoor in May, and later heavy rains and flash floods in August, significantly disrupted travel plans and pilgrimages, particularly across the Jammu Division.
Several prominent religious and tourist destinations bore the brunt of these disruptions. Sites such as Shri Mata Vaishno Devi, Shiv Khori, Patnitop, Sanasar, and Bhaderwah witnessed fluctuations in visitor numbers due to security concerns and natural calamities.
According to official data, a total of 1,47,32,552 tourists, including 12,889 foreigners, visited various destinations in the Jammu region this year so far.
Pilgrimage Tourism Continues to Dominate
Pilgrimage tourism remained the backbone of Jammu’s tourism economy. Officials said that 63,68,233 pilgrims, including 12,885 foreign nationals, visited the holy Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in the Trikuta Hills of Reasi district.
Other major destinations recorded the following footfall:
- Shiv Khori (Reasi): 9,65,592 visitors
- Patnitop (Ramban–Udhampur): 7,93,168
- Mansar Lake: 7,62,588
- Ziarat Shahdara Sharief (Rajouri): 13,30,512
- Ziarat Sain Miran Sahib (Poonch): 5,66,814
- Bhaderwah (Doda): 2,74,175 tourists (including one foreigner)
- Sanasar (Ramban): 4,31,582
- Paddar/Machail (Kishtwar): 3,16,517
- Jhiri (Jammu): 9,69,659
Several other religious and leisure destinations across Samba, Kathua, Poonch, Rajouri, Udhampur, Kishtwar and Reasi districts also recorded steady visitor numbers.
Month-wise Tourist Trends in Jammu Region
Tourist arrivals showed resilience in the first half of the year:
- January: 14,04,306
- February: 11,16,986
- March: 15,80,161
- April: 17,38,413
However, during May, when Indo-Pak tensions escalated post-Pahalgam attack, tourist numbers dropped sharply to 8,97,622—the lowest of the year. The situation improved in:
- June: 21,38,056
- July: 16,22,169
Floods and Landslides Hit Tourism Hard in August
The tourism sector suffered another major setback in August, when unprecedented rains and flash floods reduced arrivals to 11,32,762. The situation worsened after a cloudburst in Chositi village, Kishtwar, on August 14, which claimed 68 lives and injured over 300 people.
Additionally, a landslide on August 26 along the route to the Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra resulted in 34 deaths, further impacting pilgrim movement and overall tourism sentiment.
Tourist numbers dipped further in:
- September: 4,41,010
- October: 7,43,117
However, a strong rebound was witnessed in November, with 19,05,061 tourists visiting the Jammu region.
Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Growth Since 2021
Officials highlighted that between 2021 and 2024, Jammu and Kashmir received a massive 7.49 crore tourists, including pilgrims to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi and Amarnath Cave Shrine.
- 2021: 1.13 crore tourists (Jammu: 1.06 crore, Kashmir: 6.65 lakh)
- 2022: 1.88 crore tourists (Jammu: 1.62 crore, Kashmir: 26.73 lakh)
- 2023: 2.11 crore tourists (Jammu: 1.80 crore, Kashmir: 31.55 lakh)
- 2024: 2.35 crore tourists (Jammu: 2.00 crore, Kashmir: 34.98 lakh)
Notably, the number of foreign tourists visiting Jammu and Kashmir has increased significantly over the past four years, reflecting renewed global interest despite challenges.
