Kolkata, July 10 -- Amid ongoing efforts to revive tourism in Jammu and Kashmir following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah made a strong appeal to people at the Travel and Tourism Fair Kolkata 2025 to visit the valley.

Striking an optimistic tone, Abdullah said, "We're not here with a tale of doom and gloom, nor with a dark cloud hanging over us. People have a renewed sense of optimism and hope.

That hope is based on what we see on the ground in Jammu and Kashmir today and post-Pahalgam attack, tourism has begun to flow back," he said.

On the immediate impact on tourism, he admitted, "Of course, we took a hit. We went from full hotels to emptiness. We went from Dal Lake being full of shikaras to not a s...