Srinagar, Aug. 23 -- On a humid August afternoon in Srinagar's busy Lal Chowk, Waheed Ahmad Bhat flips through a stack of brochures. Each carries the same message printed boldly across the front:"Kashmir is Safe. Kashmir Welcomes You."

The travel agent has been visiting cities across India to reassure tour operators and holiday planners that the Valley is still a place of peace and beauty. "We are camping in different cities to foster confidence among travel agents. Our message is simple - Kashmir is open, safe, and waiting for tourists," Bhat said.

His urgency reflects a grim reality. The Pahalgam terror attack earlier this year has rattled Kashmir's tourism sector, once the lifeline for thousands of families. According to official fig...