## Policy Summary: Tourist Inflow and Swadesh Darshan Scheme in Jammu & Kashmir
This document summarizes data presented to the Lok Sabha on July 21, 2025, regarding tourist inflow in Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) and the impact of the Swadesh Darshan Scheme.
**Tourist Inflow:**
The number of domestic tourist visits (DTVs) and foreign tourist visits (FTVs) to J&K over the past five years are as follows:
* **2020:** 2,519,524 DTVs; 5,317 FTVs
* **2021:** 11,314,920 DTVs (349.09% growth); 1,650 FTVs (-68.97% growth)
* **2022:** 18,499,332 DTVs (63.50% growth); 19,985 FTVs (1111.21% growth)
* **2023:** 20,679,336 DTVs (11.78% growth); 55,337 FTVs (176.89% growth)
* **2024:** 23,524,629 DTVs (13.76% growth); 65,452 FTVs (18.28% growth)
*Source: Jammu Kashmir Tourism Department*
**Swadesh Darshan Scheme:**
The Ministry of Tourism sanctioned six projects under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme for the Union Territory of J&K in 2016-17, with a total sanctioned cost of ₹519.58 crore. All projects have been physically completed.
**Project Details:**
1. **Himalayan Circuit (Jammu-Srinagar-Pahalgam-Bhagwati Nagar-Anantnag-Salamabad Uri-Kargil-Leh):** Development of Jammu-Srinagar-Pahalgam-Bhagwati Nagar, Anantnag-Salamabad Uri-Kargil-Leh. Sanctioned Amount: ₹77.33 crore.
2. **Himalayan Circuit (Jammu-Rajouri-Shopian-Pulwama):** Development of Tourist Facilities at Jammu-Rajouri-Shopian-Pulwama. Sanctioned Amount: ₹81.60 crore.
3. **Himalayan Circuit:** Construction of Assets in lieu of those Destroyed in Floods in 2014 under PM Development Package. Sanctioned Amount: ₹90.43 crore.
4. **Himalayan Circuit (Mantalai and Sudhmahadev):** Development of Tourist facilities at Mantalai and Sudhmahadev. Sanctioned Amount: ₹91.99 crore.
5. **Himalayan Circuit (Anantnag-Pulwama-Kishtwar-Pahalgam-Zanskar-Padum-Daksum-Ranjit Sagar Dam):** Development of Tourist facilities at Anantnag-Pulwama-Kishtwar-Pahalgam-Zanskar-Padum-Daksum-Ranjit Sagar Dam. Sanctioned Amount: ₹86.39 crore.
6. **Himalayan Circuit (Gulmarg-Baramulla-Kupwara-Kargil-Leh):** Development of Tourist Facilities at Gulmarg-Baramulla-Kupwara-Kargil-Leh. Sanctioned Amount: ₹91.84 crore.
**Employment Generation:**
The Ministry of Tourism has not conducted a formal study to assess the direct and indirect employment generated in J&K under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme during the last five years.
Key Entities Referenced
Jammu and Kashmir: A Union Territory of India, a popular tourist destination, and the focus of the policy document regarding tourist inflow.
Swadesh Darshan Scheme: A scheme by the Ministry of Tourism to develop tourism infrastructure in India, specifically mentioned in relation to its impact on Jammu and Kashmir.
Ministry of Tourism: The Indian government ministry responsible for the formulation and administration of the rules, regulations and policies relating to the development and promotion of tourism in India.
Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat: The Minister of Tourism of India who answered the question in the Lok Sabha.
Shri Tejasvi Surya: Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) who posed the question about tourist inflow in Jammu and Kashmir.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where the question about tourism was raised.
Anantnag, Jammu and Kashmir: A district and city in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, identified as part of a Himalayan Circuit under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme.
Gulmarg, Jammu and Kashmir: A town and popular skiing destination in the Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir, identified as part of a Himalayan Circuit under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF TOURISM
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.48
ANSWERED ON 21.07.2025
TOURIST INFLOW IN JAMMU & KASHMIR
48. SHRI TEJASVI SURYA:
Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:
(a) the total number of domestic and international tourists visited
Jammu and Kashmir during the last five years and the current
year;
(b) whether the Swadesh Darshan Scheme has had a measurable
impact on the tourist inflow in the region and if so, the details
thereof;
(c) the list of heritage sites and tourist destinations in Jammu &
Kashmir that have been included under the said scheme, along
with the year of inclusion; and
(d) the number of direct and indirect employment opportunities
generated in Jammu & Kashmir under the said scheme during
the last five years and the current year?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)
(a): The number of domestic and foreign tourist visits in Jammu &
Kashmir during the last five years is given below:
Annual Growth Annual Growth
Year DTVs FTVs
in DTV (%) in FTV (%)
2020 25,19,524 5,317 - -
2021 1,13,14,920 1,650 349.09 -68.97
2022 1,84,99,332 19,985 63.50 1111.21
2023 2,06,79,336 55,337 11.78 176.89
2024 2,35,24,629 65,452 13.76 18.28
Source: Jammu & Kashmir Tourism Department(b) to (d): The Ministry of Tourism, under the Swadesh Darshan
Scheme, sanctioned a total of six (6) projects in the year 2016-17 for
the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, with a total sanctioned
cost of ₹519.58 crore. All these projects have since been physically
completed. The list of the projects sanctioned under Swadesh
Darshan scheme in UT of Jammu & Kashmir is placed at the annexure.
The Ministry has not undertaken any formal study to date to assess
the extent of direct and indirect employment generated in the region
under the Scheme during the last five years.
********ANNEXURE
STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (b) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.48 ANSWERED ON 21.07.2025
REGARDING TOURIST INFLOW IN JAMMU & KASHMIR BY SHRI
TEJASVI SURYA.
The list of the projects sanctioned under Swadesh Darshan scheme in
UT of Jammu & Kashmir is as under:
Amount
Sr. Circuit /
Name of the Project Sanctioned
No. Sanction Year
in ₹ Crore
Himalayan Development of Jammu-Srinagar- 77.33
Circuit Pahalgam-Bhagwati Nagar-
1
2016-17 Anantnag-Salamabad Uri-Kargil-
Leh
Himalayan Development of Tourist Facilities 81.60
2 Circuit at Jammu-Rajouri-Shopian-
2016-17 Pulwama.
Himalayan Development of Tourist Facilities 90.43
Circuit - Construction of Assets in lieu of
3 2016-17 those Destroyed in Floods in
2014 under PM Development
Package
Himalayan Development of Tourist facilities 91.99
4 Circuit at Mantalai and Sudhmahadev
2016-17
Himalayan Development of Tourist facilities 86.39
Circuit at Anantnag-Pulwama-Kishtwar-
5
2016-17 Pahalgam-Zanskar Padum -
Daksum - Ranjit Sagar Dam
Himalayan Development of Tourist Facilities 91.84
6 Circuit at Gulmarg-Baramulla- Kupwara-
2016-17 Kargil - Leh
Total 519.58
******