Tourism is a major source of foreign exchange earnings for India. The Tourism Industry is more important in case of Jammu and Kashmir .The inflow of tourists in the country has been continuously increasing over the years. Govt. of India has formulated various schemes including number of facilities and incentives for promoting tourism in the country.

Tourism has emerged as an important and one of the major contributors to the State's economy. There are various places of tourist attraction in the State which are being visited by both foreign and domestic tourist but their remains much to be done to exploit the tourism potential to the maximum extent. Keeping this in view, Government of Jammu and Kashmir has, recently, declared tourism as an industry and number of concessions and incentives have been extended.

The State of J&K have an important place in the tourist's itinerary for a long time. The bounty beauty, snow-clad mountains, large natural lakes and surrounded by thickly populated pine forests with river flowing therein have made J&K State as a prime tourist attraction place. The favorable climate particularly during summer months has a supplementary impact in increasing the tourist traffic to the Valley. With the development of winter sport at Gulmarg and Pahalgam, the number of tourists visiting during the winter season is also increasing considerably. The tourist visiting the Stare can broadly be categorized into:

There is a composite tourist traffics comprising pilgrims, sightseers and the visitors coming for business, conferences and other activities. The average tourist traffic in the Kashmir Valley during the Eighties works out at about 5.5 lakhs with a maximum of 7.2 lakhs in 1978 & 1998. Around 80% of the tourists visit Kashmir during May to October [6 months period] and May & June [2 months period].

The hotel industry in India is linked with the industrial growth, mobility of the people for business, pilgrimage and sight seeing as well as increase in per capita income and foreign tourist inflow. There are a number of 5 star, 3 star and non-star category type hotels. Besides a number of guest houses & lodges and house boats are engaged to cater to the requirement of low-budget tourists mainly from upper and upper-middle class group require assured boarding and lodging facilities at different places of tourist attraction.

The tourists come for visit to the major Buddhist monasteries and other cultural or heritage sites, which are principal tourist attraction of central Ladakh and Zanskar. These site most within reach of Leh. The tourists also come for adventure, trekking, river rafting and mount climbing etc.

It will be observed that the tourist traffic has been increasing quite steadily in the past and is expected to witness a steady increase in the next decade. The tourist come by road is not included, as tourism department does not register them. Domestic tourist inflow is high in June and July.

Leh at present there is total bed capacity is approximately 3,000 nos. and there is further requirement of additional 500 - 700 beds. With the increase in the tourist traffic in Leh, there is need for creation of additional modern hotel accommodation to cater to the requirement of the growing tourists.

J&K State attracts foreign tourists due to its scenic beauty, snow - clad, historical places / cultural heritage, religious places, sports -adventure sports, rafting, trekking etc. A large number of foreign tourists who come to India are for pleasure trips. Tourism has emerged as an important industry in the State and the State Government has declared tourism as one of the priority sectors.

Tourism is one of the very fast growing industries in the world and it has been recognized as an important source of foreign exchange earnings. In terms of total income generated, it is the second largest industry. In light of the tourists arrival there are inadequate housing for the accommodation of tourists in the State.

Among the important activities, which generate income from tourism, the following could be identified as major ones:

1. Hotel Industry
2. Entertainment
3. Shopping and Sight Seeing
4. Travel Agencies

Hotel industry generates the maximum income. It is estimated that a foreign tourist spends more than 50 per cent of his total expenditure on hotel.

Pilgrimage is an important activity in man's life. People in large number visit the important religious places.

There is a scope for additional hotels which can provide reasonable comforts to cater to the requirement of upper / upper-middle / middle class tourists and other visitors.

Locations selected, offer potential for specific type of tourism. Some of the locations would be suitable for developing a mix of tourist activities. Broadly, the tourism potential at these locations relate to pilgrimage, recreation, leisure and adventure base tourist activities, as indicated below:

The tourist potential at different locations varies distinctly; harnessing the same would call for a careful strategy. Developing suitable travel circuits seems to be the most appropriate and effective one to exploit tourism potential in the area.

The development of tourism in the future could be sought primarily around the existing spots, as these places are already popular among the tourists and more importantly there is latent potential still at these locations for further development. In addition, there are a few more places offering potential for tourism development.

Jammu and Kashmir has various tourist resorts. The prominent ones are

1. Gulmarg
2. Pahalgam
3. Kokernag
4. Daksum
5. Achabal
6. Aharbal
7. Sonmarg
8. Yousmarg
9. Patnitop
10. Sanasar
11. Mansar
12. Surinsar
13. Kud
14. Sarthal
15. Bhadarwah & Kishtwar
16. Loran
17. Leh ( entire region )
18. Kargil ( entire region )
19. Zanskar ( entire region )

Helicopter Charter Service for Important Destinations from Leh

1. Kargil
2. Padum ( Zanskar Valley )
3. Nubra Valley
4. Pangong Lake
5. Tsomoriri Lake
6. Nun-Kun Area ( Suru Valley )