Srinagar, Aug. 18 -- Tourism representatives reached Lok Bhavan on Tuesday with figures, concerns and a direct request for Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha: protect the landscapes that keep Kashmir's tourism economy running.

Kashmir has seen a sharp rise in tourist numbers in recent years.

Jammu and Kashmir recorded 1.13 crore domestic tourist visits in 2021. By 2024, the figure had crossed 2.3 crore. Kashmir alone recorded nearly 35 lakh visitors that year.

The tourism boom has also created jobs. The industry now supports an estimated 10.78 lakh livelihoods, ranging from houseboat keepers on Dal Lake to hotel workers in Gulmarg and Pahalgam.

Tourism representatives say the same growth has also increased pressure on the environment.

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