Srinagar, June 21 -- Pahalgam was supposed to be peaceful with its lush meadows, wooden cottages, river sounds. But after a recent attack on a group of tourists, the mood changed fast. Fear returned, so did silence. And one question lingered in the air: Will the tourists come back?

In Jammu and Kashmir, tourism is a lifeline. Boatmen on Dal Lake, guesthouse owners in Pahalgam, pashmina weavers in downtown Srinagar depend on travellers.

According to pre-pandemic data, tourism made up about 7 to 8 percent of the region's economy. In good years, over 10 million tourists visited. In bad years, even the locals stayed indoors.

Every violent episode chips away at that number. And every dip in tourist flow pulls more families toward financial ...