Srinagar, May 19 -- Data accessed through a Right to Information (RTI) query filed by activist MM Shuja reveals a sharp growth trajectory following the COVID-19 pandemic slump. Tourist footfall plummeted in 2020 to just over 41,000 due to global travel restrictions. However, the sector rebounded significantly, with nearly 30 lakh tourists visiting in 2024 alone - the highest in five years.

From 5.65 lakh visitors in 2019 to nearly 3 million in 2024, domestic tourism has remained the backbone of this resurgence. Foreign tourist numbers, although comparatively smaller, have steadily increased, reflecting growing international interest in the region.

Officials attribute the surge to improved infrastructure, strategic promotional events suc...