Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Apr 23: The Kashmir region’s strikingly beautiful mountains, valleys and grand Mughal-era gardens had drawn record tourist arrivals stemming from five years of relative safety.
Supporters of Prime Minister Narendra Modi had touted the tourism boom as among his signature achievements. But Tuesday’s terror attack in Pahalgam known for its glowing Himalayan peaks and fast-flowing streams, may have shattered his dream, at least for now, as the local Kashmiris are lamenting “tourism season for Kashmir for this year ended on Tuesday itself.”
Quite expectedly, instead of new bookings, there is a rush for cancelling the already booked trips. In the aftermath of a terror attack in Pahalgam, several travel agencies in Delhi said nearly 90% bookings for Jammu and Kashmir have been cancelled by tourists over safety concerns.
Around 25 people have asked them to cancel their bookings for the Union Territory, said Gaurav Rathi, owner of Swan Travellers. He added that most of the tourists had planned to visit Kashmir next month and are now requesting cancellations.
Railways will run a special unreserved train from Katra to New Delhi at 9:20 p.m., tonight for those who want to cut short their trip to Jammu and Kashmir and return to their respective destinations, an official said. Reports suggested that several tourists at various places in Jammu wanted to return to their respected cities in the wake of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam.
“Considering the urgency, we have immediately arranged a special train for all classes of passengers to return to their home cities,” Himanshu Upadhyay, Chief Public Relation Officer, Northern Railway, said.
The government also announced additional flights from Srinagar and that airfares on the route are being kept at reasonable levels amid a large number of tourists looking to return from J&K. As many as 3,337 passengers flew out of Srinagar in 20 flights between 6 a.m. and 12 p.m. IndiGo, Air India and SpiceJet are operating a total of seven extra flights in addition to their normal scheduled services from Srinagar.
Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu said strict instructions were given to airline companies to avoid any fare surges, and that fares are being monitored and kept at reasonable levels. His comments also came against the backdrop of some websites apparently showing ticket prices of over ₹50,000 for flights to Srinagar.
The general manager of a reputed hotel in Srinagar said, “Since Tuesday night, I have been handling only cancellations. Many groups had planned tours in advance, but tourists already in Srinagar are leaving as soon as they can get flights. The situation is the same at other hotels as well. Last year, Srinagar experienced a surge in destination weddings, corporate tours, and a thriving tourism season. Tuesday has come as a black day for Srinagar.”
Karan Saggar, owner of Travel with Karan, said, “Since Wednesday morning, we have received only cancellation calls. Many tourists currently in Srinagar want to return early.”
Saggar said more than 30 summer tours with his company have been cancelled since the Pahalgam terror attack on Tuesday. “Most of these were linked to the Amarnath Yatra. Typically, tourists plan a combined trip — first to the Amarnath Yatra and then sightseeing in Srinagar. This incident will certainly affect not just travel agents but also Srinagar’s entire tourism industry.”
Goldy Dhillon, a taxi service operator, said, “After the flood in Manali in July 2023, people turned to Srinagar, and the seasons since then have been excellent. We were waiting for the landslide debris to clear so we could recover some business during summer vacation, but now, looking at the panic cancellations, it seems tourists will choose other destinations instead. The Pahalgam terror attack would severely affect the tourist influx for the Amarnath Yatra and hamper the taxi services business as well,” he felt.
Shabeer Ahmad, former president of the Kashmir Printers Association and a resident of Srinagar, said, “We are in shock after the Pahalgam incident. Locals are deeply shaken. On Wednesday morning, all markets in Srinagar observed a black day to condemn the massacre of innocent people. Many local Pahalgam transporters are even offering tourists free rides to help them return home safely, anywhere in India. We stand with the tourists in this hour of crisis. There is no doubt that on Wednesday, tourists hardly stepped out of hotels and were in a hurry to leave. For us, the tourist season ended Tuesday itself. We are truly speechless,” he added.
Ahmad said the tourism industry had been “blooming” over the past year. But now, everyone and everything, from hotels and restaurants to transporters, printers, and even a small kahwa seller, will be affected, he said.
Travel agencies in Delhi reported a significant drop in Kashmir bookings, with many tourists now opting to change their plans or choose alternative destinations. “We had a few family bookings. Everything was pre-arranged – from bus and flight tickets to hotels. But once the news of the terror attack spread, we started receiving cancellation requests immediately,” said Dev, the owner of Kusha Travels. Popular tourist spots, including Gulmarg, Hajan Valley, and the Tulip Gardens, were among the most frequently booked locations for visitors heading to Kashmir.
“We had over 20 bookings for Kashmir for this and next month, but nearly all have now been cancelled indefinitely,” stated Kartik Verma, a travel agent from Good Guide Tours and Travels. “People are demanding refunds. They are reluctant to take their families to a place where there is a risk they may not return,” he added.
Verma also explained that, with many bookings for flights and hotels being non-refundable, travel agencies are facing significant difficulties. He noted that, during this time of year, Kashmir is one of the most popular family destinations.
“It’s not just locals cancelling their trips – even tourists already in Delhi are calling off their Kashmir visits, despite the high hotel rates this summer. People are cancelling regardless of the cost,” the owner of Swastik Travels stated. “Not just Kashmir, people are now also hesitant to visit Jammu. We had seven families booked for the Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra, and all those plans were cancelled after the horrific attack,” the owner added.
AJ Tours and Travels also confirmed that they have been instructed to stop accepting any new bookings for Jammu and Kashmir. “We’ve been advised by the Travel Association of Srinagar to suspend all transportation and bookings. As a result, we are not taking any new bookings for Jammu and Kashmir until further notice,” the agency said.
