J&K: 90% tourists cancel bookings after terror attack; avoid even Jammu
Virendra Pandit
New Delhi: After the Pakistan-sponsored Islamist terrorists’ attack at Pahalgam on Tuesday, that claimed at least 26 lives and left around 20 others wounded, almost 90 percent of tourists have cancelled their bookings as Jammu and Kashmir braces for potential uncertainties soon, the media reported on Wednesday.
The Union Territory’s economy is heavily dependent on tourism. Almost 70 percent of its population earns its livelihood from this sector.
Since the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution of India in August 2019, the number of tourists has increased eightfold. Nearly 8 crore tourists have flocked to the UT so far.
The fresh—and rare—terror attack on tourists, the worst in 30 years, has brought back memories of the bloody decades that started in the early 1990s.
In the last 24 hours, travel agencies in Delhi and other places informed that, nearly 90 percent bookings for the Union Territory, bordering Pakistan, have been cancelled by tourists over safety concerns, leaving many locals worried as tourist season in J&K had started this month in full swing, and was expected to continue for the next two months.
Most of the tourists had planned to visit J&K in May and are now requesting cancellations.
The attack took place around 3 pm on Tuesday, when terrorists descended from the mountains in Pahalgam’s picturesque Baisaran Valley and opened fire indiscriminately on unsuspecting tourists. The area, often referred to as “Mini Switzerland” for its lush green meadows, is a very popular tourist destination.
Travel agencies in Delhi said that some tourists are negotiating to shift their plans to alternative destinations.
The bookings included those for hotels, buses, flights, taxies, etc. Most tourists had made these bookings well in advance. As soon as news spread about the attack, they started cancelling bookings.
Popular tourist destinations like Gulmarg, Hajan Valley and the Tulip Gardens were among the most-booked destinations, the reports said.
Many tourists have asked tour operators to refund their money, saying they cannot risk going to a place from where they might not return.
Since some bookings, especially for flights and hotels, are non-refundable, it is creating a mess for the tour agencies. Many are cancelling their bookings regardless of the costs involved.
The attack has so panicked tourists that they are not only avoiding Kashmir but also Jammu, forcing the tour agencies to stop taking any new bookings.
The Pahalgam attack is the deadliest in J&K since the 2019 Pulwama strike.
Among the dead were two foreigners and two local residents, a senior official said.
