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The study aims to determine heritage tourism potential in the Kashmir valley, a developing region, to lower the impact of mass tourism on the natural environment. The potential was assessed using criterion‐based indicators. After a Delphi survey, Content Validation Ratio determined indicator retention. Field trips and secondary sources identified the sites. The sites with cultural significance were prioritized with other supporting factors. The Weighted Sum Method assessed the heritage site potential. It was calculated for each criterion: Cultural, Physical, and Natural. Then, total potential was classified into three groups on the basis of equal intervals depicting high, medium, and low, where high ranges from 0.628 to 0.756, medium from 0.502 to 0.628, and low from 0.375 to 0.502. Being the capital city and hub of different activities, Srinagar district of the study area has maximum of the sites with high heritage potential. Owing to its long history, the study region has many heritage sites; however, its tourism potential has yet to be tapped. The study emphasizes the significance of shifting surges in tourism forms in managing sustainable tourism development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study focuses on evaluating the main tourist destinations in the erstwhile Baramulla district of the Kashmir Himalayas to promote tourism. Various variables such as topography, land use/forest cover, vegetation diversity, climate, food availability, accessibility, accommodation, tourism attraction characteristics, and other infrastructure amenities were used to create different indices. A field study/sample survey was conducted to gather data from tourists at each destination. The composite score method was employed to determine the level of development at each destination. The total score values (8.5 to 24) were categorized into three groups: High (8.5–13.6), Medium (13.6–18.8), and Low (18.8–24.0). The results reveal that Gulmarg and Baba Rishi Shrine have a high level of development with some degree of variation. Manasbal and Wular Lake exhibit medium levels of development, while Baba Shakur Ud Din shrine demonstrates a low level of development. The study emphasizes the need for bottom-up and top-down planning, aggressive tourism marketing, development of tourist service infrastructure, and technical assistance and training for tourism organizations to ensure proper planning and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]