Srinagar: A parliamentary committee has recommended the establishment of an integrated security and surveillance system covering all major tourist destinations in Jammu and Kashmir, including comprehensive CCTV coverage, centralised monitoring, regular vulnerability assessments and periodic security audits.
The recommendations have been made in the 260th report of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs, which was presented in Parliament on Friday following the committee’s visit to J&K in May 2026 to assess security arrangements at key tourist locations.
The panel has stressed that security arrangements at tourist destinations should be reviewed regularly, particularly ahead of the peak tourism season, in view of the growing number of visitors to J&K and the need to ensure their safety.
It has recommended that CCTV cameras be installed at all important tourist sites and connected to a central monitoring mechanism to enable authorities to maintain real-time surveillance and respond quickly to any security-related incident.
The committee has also called for regular vulnerability assessments of tourist destinations to identify security gaps and ensure that appropriate preventive measures are put in place.
Periodic security audits have been recommended to assess the effectiveness of existing arrangements and make necessary improvements.
The recommendations assume significance in the aftermath of the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 people, including 25 tourists, were killed.
The attack had raised serious concerns over the security of tourists at popular destinations in the Valley and prompted a reassessment of security arrangements at tourist sites.
The parliamentary panel noted that improved connectivity, enhanced security systems, better tourism infrastructure and a revival of confidence among travellers had contributed to a sustained increase in tourist arrivals to J&K.
“In this context, security management at tourist destinations assumes special importance, as it directly affects the perception of safety, the quality of visitor experience and the continued growth of the tourism sector,” the committee observed.
The panel underlined that tourism in J&K is closely linked to the perception of safety among visitors and that any security lapse could have wider implications for the sector.
It said the security architecture at tourist locations therefore needed to move beyond conventional deployment and incorporate technology-driven surveillance and coordinated monitoring mechanisms.
The proposed integrated system would bring surveillance infrastructure, monitoring and security assessments within a coordinated framework, enabling authorities to identify potential vulnerabilities and strengthen preparedness before the onset of the peak tourist season.
The committee’s recommendations came after its May visit to J&K, during which members examined security arrangements at important tourist destinations and interacted with officials concerned.
The panel’s emphasis on periodic vulnerability checks and security audits also seeks to ensure that arrangements remain responsive to changing security threats rather than being treated as one-time measures.
J&K has witnessed a major expansion in tourism infrastructure and connectivity in recent years, with authorities seeking to consolidate the region’s position as a major tourist destination.
Against this backdrop, the committee has stressed that sustained growth in tourist arrivals must be accompanied by robust and visible security arrangements to maintain public confidence and protect visitors.
The recommendations are expected to provide a framework for strengthening security at tourist destinations through greater use of surveillance technology, centralised monitoring and regular assessment of vulnerabilities.
