‘25-30% of Kashmir's tourists are from Bengal': State's tour operators to take out protest march against Pahalgam attack

Indian Express

24-04-2025

The recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam has sent shockwaves through the tourism sector in Kashmir, triggering a wave of cancellations and casting a shadow over what was anticipated to be a promising summer season. Tour and travel operators in West Bengal have called for a protest march in Kolkata on Thursday.
'This is not just a terror attack on humanity but also a direct blow to tourism. The rally will start from the West Bengal Youth hostel and go up to the State Assembly,' said a member of the Travel Agents' Federation of India (TAFI).
Anil Punjabi, a national committee member of the TAFI, emphasised the significant role of West Bengal tourists in Kashmir. Speaking to The Indian Express, he said, 'Bengal contributes 25-30 percent of Kashmir's total tourism. Kashmir had been very normal, having won tourists' trust over the years. There has been regular traffic from West Bengal to Kashmir, round the year. Sometimes, my travel agents would talk about 'over-tourism' in Kashmir… It took so many years to create this image that has been shattered in seconds.'
Akash Kundu, the owner of Kolkata -based Explore India travel agency, shared the immediate impact on his business. 'We have 13 people from Kharagpur who are in Kashmir now. Pahalgam has been removed from the package, and the equivalent of one day's estimated expenditure will be deducted and refunded. We are in constant contact with the group; they are all safe and had themselves requested the cancellation of Pahalgam. Srinagar is a town area, while Pahalgam is off the beaten path, typically requiring a separate car for sightseeing. Our seven-night, eight-day Kashmir package included two nights in Katihar, four in Srinagar, and one in Pahalgam.'
Kundu highlighted the prior optimism for the season, stating, 'For 2026, we had launched 17 trips for Kashmir, and all had already been booked. For May, there were multiple bookings for Kashmir, but now we are receiving cancellation requests. Some are more keen to reroute their trips to Himachal Pradesh, Shimla, Spiti, or Ladakh.'
Security personnel near the site of the Pahalgam terror attack in Anantnag district. (Photo: Reuters)
'Where there are tourists, you will find Bengalis. The people of Bengal love travelling, but not many want to spend excessively. If the same incident had occurred in Srinagar, it would have impacted the overall tourism of Kashmir. However, a large number of people visit Gulmarg and Vaishno Devi, so those who don't cancel might prefer visiting Gulmarg and then rerouting to Ladakh,' he said.
The apprehension among tourists is palpable, leading some travel agencies to reconsider their future offerings for the region. 'In the future, we will refrain from taking bookings for Kashmir. Instead, it is better to book for Himachal Pradesh, Spiti, or Ladakh, which are beautiful places too,' Kundu said.
Another tour operator echoed the concerns about the local population's livelihood. 'Sadly, if tourists don't go there, residents will face massive unemployment, and they too might join these militants. The government should have worked on the security system of Kashmir. A trust was built. This is not only our loss but a big loss for the local people who depend on tourism heavily,' he said.
As per travel operators, travellers are apprehensive about every spot after this attack — not just Kashmir.
'People want security. Post-pandemic, we saw an increase in domestic travelling because during quarantine, when people explored domestic destinations, they felt that India had beautiful places to explore. Regular travellers from Bengal balanced it with one domestic and one international destination a year. There is a 100 percent cancellation of Kashmir trips after this trip. In fact, we will suggest travellers explore alternative destinations like Himachal Pradesh, Jim Corbett, and others,' said Anil Punjabi.
As per the Federation, Kashmir, Rajasthan, and Kerala have thus far been the top three preferred destinations for people in India.
'It will surely take time for people to feel safe to travel to Kashmir. It depends on the government what strict action they will take, and what role they play to win back tourism,' he said.
Efforts are underway by travel agencies and authorities to assist affected tourists with cancellations and refunds. Some airlines and online travel platforms are reportedly offering waivers on cancellation and rescheduling fees.