Kashmir Impulse Desk
Srinagar, Aug 8
A parliamentary committee has recommended an integrated security and surveillance system at major tourist destinations in Jammu and Kashmir, including comprehensive CCTV coverage, centralised monitoring and regular assessments of security vulnerabilities.
The recommendations were contained in the 260th report of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs, presented in Parliament after the panel visited Jammu and Kashmir in May to assess security arrangements at key tourist locations.
The committee said security arrangements should be reviewed regularly, particularly before the peak tourism season, as visitor numbers increase and the region seeks to sustain the growth of its tourism industry.
It recommended installing CCTV cameras at important tourist sites and linking them to a central monitoring system capable of providing real-time surveillance and enabling authorities to respond quickly to incidents.
The panel also called for regular vulnerability assessments to identify security gaps and determine preventive measures, along with periodic security audits to assess whether existing arrangements remain effective.
The recommendations follow the April 2025 attack in Pahalgam, in which 26 people, including 25 tourists, were killed. The attack triggered renewed scrutiny of security arrangements at tourist destinations in Kashmir.
The committee said improved connectivity, tourism infrastructure and security arrangements, together with a recovery in traveller confidence, had contributed to rising tourist arrivals in Jammu and Kashmir.
But it stressed that the perception of safety remained critical to the sector.
“Security management at tourist destinations assumes special importance,” the committee said, linking visitor safety to the quality of the tourism experience and continued growth of the industry.
The panel said security arrangements needed to move beyond conventional deployment and incorporate technology-based surveillance and coordinated monitoring.
The proposed framework would bring CCTV infrastructure, central monitoring and security assessments into a more coordinated system, allowing authorities to identify vulnerabilities and strengthen preparedness ahead of the peak tourism season.
The recommendations followed the committee’s May visit, during which members examined security arrangements at major tourist sites and held discussions with officials.
The panel also stressed that vulnerability assessments and security audits should be conducted periodically so that security arrangements can adapt to changing threats rather than remain one-time measures.
Jammu and Kashmir has expanded tourism infrastructure and connectivity in recent years as authorities seek to strengthen the region’s position as a major tourist destination.
The committee said sustained growth in visitor numbers would need to be accompanied by visible and effective security measures to maintain public confidence and protect tourists.
