Mubashir Alam Wani
Srinagar, Feb 17 : The postponement of the fifth edition of Khelo India Winter Games (KIWG-2025) has come as a major setback for hoteliers in Gulmarg, who were relying on the event to boost tourism amid an already struggling season caused by low snowfall.
President of the Hoteliers Club Gulmarg Chapter, Aqib Chaya, told the news agency that the decision has resulted in significant cancellations, affecting the hospitality sector.
“This postponement has led to over 400–500 room cancellations across hotels in Gulmarg. On average, each hotel had to cancel around 60 rooms during the event period. For a small destination like Gulmarg, this is a significant loss,” Chaya said.
The Khelo India Winter Games, which were scheduled to be held in this month, were expected to attract a large number of athletes, officials, and tourists. However, due to the ongoing dry spell and lack of adequate snowfall, the event has now been postponed by the officials.
Economic Losses and Business Uncertainty
Hoteliers in Gulmarg were banking on the event to compensate for the low occupancy this season, but now they are staring at heavy losses.
“February was our only hope to recover from the dip in business caused by the dry spell. With Khelo India postponed and no fresh snowfall in sight, the tourism sector in Gulmarg is suffering massively,” Chaya added.
Business owners are now concerned about the lack of clarity on rescheduling. Industry insiders believe that without a confirmed date, tourism stakeholders will struggle to plan ahead.
“Postponement without a new date is just a cosmetic move. If no timeline is given, it will only add to the uncertainty and further dampen tourist confidence,” Chaya remarked.
With climate change worsening and snowfall patterns becoming increasingly unpredictable, tourism businesses fear that such setbacks will become more frequent in the future. Stakeholders are urging the need for long-term sustainability measures to ensure the survival of Kashmir’s winter tourism industry.
For now, Gulmarg’s hospitality sector remains in limbo, waiting for snowfall and a fresh schedule for the Khelo India Winter Games.
