Kolkata travel companies launch 'Chalo Kashmir' drive
KOLKATA: In a bid to revive
Kashmir
tourism, around 100
travel companies
and several associate agencies in Kolkata have come together to support the 'Chalo Kashmir' initiative.
The united stand aims to put forward a bold statement against the Pahalgam attack - considered by experts as an attempt to hit the Valley's hospitality industry - and industry leaders feel encouraging tourists to return would effectively counter terrorism.
These
travel
agencies collectively manage about 4 lakh domestic tourists annually, with 40,000 of them visiting J&K. More groups are expected to support the initiative.
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Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
‘Resume direct flights, reduce hotel tariffs to revive tourism in Kashmir'
Srinagar: The travel trade industry has appealed to airlines to resume flights to Srinagar that were discontinued after the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 so that tourism in Kashmir can revive. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now While all flights to Srinagar, Jammu and over two dozen other areas were suspended in May, as India conducted air strikes against terror hubs in Pakistan, some services including direct flights from Kolkata to Srinagar by IndiGo Airlines and Air India Express have not resumed after hostilities ceased on May 10. IndiGo has indicated that it will resume the direct flight from June 16. Last month, TOI wrote about the 'Chalo Kashmir' campaign, a strong community-tourism industry connect initiative launched by the Travel Agents' Association of India (TAAI), which handles around 4 lakh tourists from Kolkata in a year, around 40,000 of whom travel to Kashmir. Taking the campaign forward, TAAI started a new campaign called Rally for Valley to boost tourism in Kashmir. "We are in talks with the Union govt as well as airlines and hotel bodies to put a cap on tariffs that can help us shape attractive packages for tourists," said TAAI president Sunil Kumar. "As for safety, we are visiting the valley with our families. Tourists have nothing to fear. People here are among the most hospitable. This is the best time to visit the Valley," he added. Over 15 lakh tourists visited Kashmir last year. The Valley was packed with tourists again this year before the terror attack triggered mass cancellations. The downturn in tourists has hit Kashmiris hard. "In April, we were charging Rs 5,000 for a round trip to Pahalgam from Srinagar. Now we are taking tourists even for Rs 3,000," said Md Rouf, a driver. Restaurants like Lazeez, which had to turn down guests two months back, are now giving special offers to fill tables. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "Very few rooms have been booked across several hotels. Had it not been for the terror attacks, these hotels would have been packed. These hotels should take a Covid-time-like approach and cut down on tariffs. We have set ourselves a target until Sept this year by when we intend to revive tourism back in Kashmir," said TAAI chairman (east) Anjani Dhanuka. The newly inaugurated Vande Bharat Express, travelling through the landmark Chenab Bridge, is also being promoted as a game changer. "Kolkata will host the first roadshow promoting Kashmir as a safe destination. We are also regularly updating our social media handles with snippets and current activities in popular destinations in Srinagar, Pahalgam, Jammu, Gulmarg, Sonmarg, and other places to encourage tourists from Kolkata," said Manav Soni, TAAI national committee member.
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Time of India
Tour operators: We're working collectively to revive Kashmir as a safe destination
'Kashmir is facing a wave of cancellations, and uncertainty continues to loom over travel plans' It has been a month since the terror attack in Pahalgam, which claimed over 26 lives. Travel agents, who had been looking forward to a peak summer tourism season, experienced nearly 100% cancellations following the incident and the subsequent military operation by the Indian Armed Forces. Now, with the ceasefire in place and fleeting moments of normalcy, tour operators report that only five to ten per cent of tourists have returned to the valley. Still, there is hope that the situation will improve in the coming months, mostly by winter. 'We saw 70% cancellations after the attack, 100% amid tensions, and only 10% packages have been retained for now' Explaining the on-ground situation, Srinagar-based travel agent Shahji Shakil shares that while some tourist queries are coming in, the numbers are very low. 'Seventy per cent of my bookings were cancelled after the Pahalgam attack, and the rest were cancelled or postponed during the warlike tension between the two countries. Now, a very limited number oftourists are returning – only 5-10% of booked packages have been retained,' he says. 'All foreign tourists have cancelled their bookings' As tensions between India and Pakistan escalated, many countries issued travel advisories warning their citizens against visiting border areas, specifically Jammu and Kashmir. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Click Here - This Might Save You From Losing Money Expertinspector Click Here Undo Srinagar-based travel agent Shaqoor Sheikh, who primarily works with international travellers, says, 'All my packages have been cancelled until September. When people spend that much money, they expect to visit key sites, but locations like Betaab Valley and Baisaran are still closed. That, combined with global advisories, has really hit us.' NCR-based agent Akash Rastogi points out that although travel agents are encouraging tourists to return, fear remains. 'Most places are deserted. From a tourism standpoint, this peak summer season is lost. We can only hope things will improve in winter. For now, Srinagar, Sonmarg, and Gulmarg are open, while Pahalgam and the interiors remain closed.' Many agents echo his sentiments. Delhi-based Muzamil Nazir, who also has an office in Srinagar, says, 'Travel companies and partner agencies in Kolkata have joined hands to revive tourism with the 'Chalo Kashmir' initiative. We're waiting to see how tourists respond. If it gains traction, it'll benefit everyone. But for now, we have zero bookings for Kashmir. We're hoping the next season – 2026 – might be better.' Explaining the on-ground situation, Srinagar-based travel agent Shahji Shakil shares that while some tourist queries are coming in, the numbers are very low 'Log wapas aana chahte hain, par dare hue hain' Sopore-based travel agent Asif Hussain adds that while queries are few, tourist interest is still alive. ' Log wapas aana chahte hain, par dare hue hain . Logon ko yeh message jaana chahiye ki tourism ab safe hai Kashmir mein . The few bookings I do have are for ultra-luxury resorts; regular tourists are almost non-existent. This is actually the best time to visit Kashmir – there are fewer crowds, hotel prices are lower, so those who want to come can still do so. However, out of the 180 bookings I had, only seven were retained. Most people wanted refunds,' he shares. He emphasises that regaining trust is essential, 'Our industry has suffered deeply, and recovery will take time. But when the attack happened, we stood by the tourists. I personally spent three days in the hospital with guests who were injured in the attack. We're with you – please trust us.' 'Safety and stability are critical for the revival of tourism' Ravi Gosain, President, Indian Association of Tour Operators, says, 'Tourism in Kashmir has been severely impacted by the recent India-Pakistan conflict. The region is facing a wave of cancellations, and uncertainty continues to loom over travel plans. It's clear that restoring tourists' confidence will take time. As tour operators and travel agents, we are proactively assessing the situation by organising familiarisation trips for key industry stakeholders. These visits allow firsthand review of the ground conditions and help us work collectively to revive Kashmir's image as a safe and welcoming destination. We urge the government to take immediate and effective action to boost security and foster an environment that reassures travellers. Safety and stability are critical for the revival of tourism in this beautiful region.' Chalo Kashmir campaign kicks off, supported by almost 100 travel companies In response to concerns over tourism following the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) has launched the 'Let's Visit J&K' or 'Chalo Kashmir' campaign, which aims to restore the region's vibrancy and support the revival of tourism. Approximately 100 travel companies in Kolkata have joined the 'Chalo Kashmir' campaign, viewing it as a robust response to the recent attack. These agencies collectively manage about 4 lakh domestic tourists annually, including 40,000 to Jammu and Kashmir, as per a Times Of India report. The association aims to reach more than one million travellers – including families, groups and individuals – through the direct customer base of its 2,400+ member companies across India. Summer's definitely been impacted—there's no doubt about that. But we believe there's huge potential in winter tourism. Gulmarg, for instance, is already recognised for its ski slopes. Indian travellers, especially dual-income couples aged 23–30, are warming up to off-season travel. They're not bound by school holidays and are making the most of long weekends. July to September can be positioned as off-peak travel windows, especially as accessibility improves - Hari Ganapathy, Co-founder, Pickyourtrail (They are entering the domestic travel space starting with Kashmir, in solidarity with a region whose tourism economy has been deeply impacted.) One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
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Business Standard
21-05-2025
- Business Standard
Travel bodies join hands to revive Kashmir tourism post-terror attack
Tourism associations express solidarity with Jammu and Kashmir after Pahalgam terror attack; hoteliers offer discounts as confidence-building begins Mumbai Listen to This Article Major associations in the travel and hospitality sector have joined hands in an effort to revive the tourism industry in Jammu and Kashmir after the Pahalgam terror attack in April. This comes after the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) recently launched a 'Chalo Kashmir' campaign to encourage travel to the region. 'All the major associations have expressed solidarity with Kashmir and the entire tourism industry of the state, and the effect of this (the terror attack) will take some time to wear off,' Ajay Prakash, vice-chairman, Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism and Hospitality (FAITH), told Business Standard.
