Kashmir’s winter tourism got a major boost on Saturday, December 13, 2025. Asia’s longest ski drag lift and a rotating conference hall at 4,390 metres were inaugurated in Gulmarg, north Kashmir. The ski drag lift is 726 metres long and cost ₹3.65 crore. The rotating hall at Apharwat cost ₹86 lakh. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said, "The newly-inaugurated ski drag lift and training facilities would give a major boost to winter sports and professional skiing. The revolving conference hall at Apharwat would significantly enhance visitor experience. Our vision is to make Gulmarg a global hub for winter sports while ensuring conservation of its fragile ecology and natural beauty." Abdullah also opened tourism projects worth over ₹17 crore. He laid the foundation stone for fencing the Gulmarg golf course with a ₹4.77 crore investment to protect this key tourism asset. The Gulmarg meadow, surrounded by mountains, drew 7.68 lakh visitors in 2024. It hosted the fourth Khelo India Winter Games. Abdullah said, "Gulmarg remains the crown jewel of J&K’s tourism landscape and that sustained investment in modern, high-quality infrastructure is essential to unlocking its full potential. These initiatives are not just infrastructure additions but strategic investments that will create year-round tourism opportunities, generate employment for local youth, and elevate Gulmarg to international standards."