Srinagar, June 4 — More than 200 trekking and adventure tourism operators from Ganderbal and other parts of Kashmir have appealed to the Jammu and Kashmir administration to reopen major trekking routes, saying the continued closure of trails during the peak summer season has left hundreds of families facing severe financial hardship.
The operators urged Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to intervene and facilitate the reopening of trekking routes while ensuring necessary security measures remain in place.
The closed routes include the Great Lakes circuit covering Gadsar, Krishansar, Vishansar, Satsar and Gangbal, besides the Kolahoi Glacier Trek, Tarsar-Marsar Trek in Pahalgam, Tosamaidan-Yusmar, Dara-Pahalgam and Dara-Sonamarg trails.
The trekking community said the restrictions, imposed after the Pahalgam attack as part of a broader security review, have continued even as several tourist destinations across Kashmir have been reopened in phases following security assessments.
“Trekking is our primary source of income, and the continued closure of these routes is pushing many families into financial distress,” said Mushtaq Ahmad, a trekking guide.
“We have bank loans and monthly EMIs to pay. The trekking season is what sustains our families for much of the year,” he added.
Operators said the summer months are critical for the adventure tourism sector, with bookings typically beginning in February and peak activity occurring between June and August.
“While we start our bookings in February, the months of June, July and August are crucial for earning our livelihood. Adventure tourism is community-based and provides employment opportunities right at the local doorstep,” Ahmad said.
According to him, the prolonged closure has affected more than 200 adventure tourism operators, many of whom are struggling to service loans.
“Several operators are finding it difficult to repay bank borrowings, and some accounts are on the verge of turning into NPAs. Hundreds of families are directly or indirectly dependent on adventure tourism for their livelihood,” he said.
Another operator said the shutdown of trekking routes has had repercussions beyond guides and tour organisers, affecting the broader tourism economy linked to the sector.
“The Great Lakes trek is among Kashmir's most sought-after adventure attractions. Keeping these routes closed for an extended period is affecting not only trekkers but the entire tourism ecosystem linked to the sector,” he said.
Fayaz Ahmad, a trekking guide from Sonamarg, said operators continue to receive inquiries from tourists but remain unable to confirm bookings because of the restrictions.
“We are getting regular queries from tourists interested in trekking, but we have been forced to keep bookings on hold as the routes remain closed,” he said.
The operators said the Great Lakes trek remains one of Kashmir's premier adventure tourism products, attracting large numbers of domestic and international visitors every year and generating substantial seasonal employment in remote mountain communities.
They urged the administration to complete the security review process at the earliest and allow trekking activities to resume so that livelihoods dependent on the sector can be protected.