What happened
On March 7, 2025, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah announced two things: a comprehensive Eco-Tourism Policy that would position J&K as a world-class sustainable tourism destination, and a multi-stakeholder Advisory Committee that would ensure tourism planning was guided by actual stakeholders rather than slow, detached bureaucrats. He cited plastic waste at tourist sites as a critical challenge requiring urgent attention. By June 2026 — fifteen months later — no policy document has been placed in the public domain, no committee member has been named, no implementation timeline has been set, and no formal progress has been communicated. The tourism sector's share of GSDP stands at 7%, against the promised 15%. Plastic waste at tourist sites remains critical. The original announcement, however, is still available for review.