Srinagar, July 9 -- Srinagar- Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said Jammu and Kashmir must gradually transition from a volume-driven tourism model to value-based tourism to ensure the sector's long-term sustainability, asserting that tourism without sustainability is an "unqualified disaster."

Addressing the Conclave on Sustainable Tourism at Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre, Omar said the Union Territory must decide whether it wants to remain a volume-based destination or evolve into a value-based tourism economy.

"Do we want to earn because we charge 100 tourists one rupee each, or because we charge one tourist 100 rupees? The answer to that question should shape our master plans and tourism policy," he said, as ...