Srinagar, Feb. 27 -- The tourism sector, a vital component of Kashmir's economy, has been languishing due to lack of snow. But snowfall and precipitation in the plains is expected to breathe new life back into this industry, with key resorts like Gulmarg and Pahalgam likely to experience a tourist rush again. One benefit of snowfall is that it brings foreign tourists to the Valley. Lasr year, 43,000 international visitors arrived in the Valley compared to 37,000 in 2023. According to the official data, the total tourist footfall in 2024 stood at 2.95 million, a conspicuous rise from the 2.71 million visitors in 2023 and 2.67 million in 2022.

Despite the challenges posed by the soaring airfares, the snowfall has kindled hopes for a reviva...