New Delhi, Aug 9: A parliamentary committee has recommended an integrated security and surveillance system covering all major tourist destinations in Jammu and Kashmir, including comprehensive CCTV coverage, centralised monitoring, regular vulnerability assessments and periodic security audits.
The recommendations were made in the 260th report of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs, presented in Parliament on Friday following the committee’s visit to Jammu and Kashmir in May 2026 to assess security arrangements at key tourist locations.
The panel said security arrangements at tourist destinations should be reviewed regularly, particularly before the peak tourism season, amid rising tourist arrivals and the need to ensure the safety of visitors.
More Read
It recommended that CCTV cameras be installed at all important tourist sites and connected to a central monitoring mechanism to enable real-time surveillance and facilitate a swift response to security incidents.
The committee also called for regular vulnerability assessments to identify security gaps and ensure that preventive measures are taken in time. Periodic security audits should be conducted to evaluate existing arrangements and introduce necessary improvements, it said.
The recommendations assume significance in the aftermath of the April 2025 Pahalgam attack, in which 26 people, including 25 tourists, were killed. The attack triggered heightened concerns over the safety of visitors at popular tourist destinations in the Valley and prompted a reassessment of security arrangements.
“In this context, security management at tourist destinations assumes special importance, as it directly affects the perception of safety, the quality of visitor experience and the continued growth of the tourism sector,” the committee observed.
The panel said tourism in Jammu and Kashmir is closely linked to visitors’ perception of safety and warned that any security lapse could have wider implications for the sector.
It stressed that the security architecture at tourist locations should move beyond conventional deployment and incorporate technology-driven surveillance and coordinated monitoring mechanisms.
The proposed system would bring surveillance infrastructure, monitoring and security assessments under a coordinated framework, allowing authorities to identify potential vulnerabilities and strengthen preparedness before the onset of the peak tourist season.
The committee said improved connectivity, enhanced security systems, better tourism infrastructure and the revival of confidence among travellers had contributed to a sustained increase in tourist arrivals to Jammu and Kashmir.
The recommendations followed the panel’s May visit to J&K, during which members examined security arrangements at important tourist destinations and interacted with officials concerned.
The committee’s emphasis on periodic vulnerability assessments and security audits is aimed at ensuring that security arrangements remain responsive to changing threats rather than being treated as one-time measures.
