Tourism under siege: livelihood recovery in the pursuit of peace and prosperity

Abstract

Kashmir has been caught in the crossfire between India and Pakistan since its independence in 1947; however, with a renewed crackdown in 2019, the region has been constantly promoted as a peaceful tourist destination and is often referred to as the Switzerland of the East. However, after the Pahalgam attack, even that fragile peace is threatened by a cycle of fear and economic uncertainty that runs rampant among the local Kashmiris. A sharp decline in tourism has led to an escalation of uncertainty and psychological insecurity among locals. This paper examines how the disruption of tourism after the 2025 Pahalgam attack has affected tourism-dependent communities and economic security among the locals in Kashmir. The measures taken during an enhanced protective state may mitigate short-term threats, but they neglect the structural drivers that perpetuate long-term instability in the livelihoods of the inhabitants. Sustainable peace and stability in Kashmir require prioritizing economic recovery, cultural resilience, and grassroots peacebuilding, alongside addressing the deep-rooted causes of conflict. Drawing on John Paul Lederach’s Peacebuilding Pyramid, the article further examines how livelihood recovery, community resilience, and grassroots interventions can contribute to long-term peacebuilding in the region. The paper considers NGO interventions as examples of grassroots mechanisms supporting local recovery and community resilience. Furthermore, the study calls for policy attention and international dialogue that focus on local voices and socio-economic support, with reference to the global Sustainable Development Goals, to consider policy implications and prevent further crises.

The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Frontiers in Political Science, 2026 · DOI ↗