Kashmir tourism stumbles after Pahalgam terror attack, but industry leaders remain hopeful
Tourism in Kashmir, which had been on the rise since the Covid pandemic, has come to a standstill following the the
According to the Association of Hoteliers in the Valley, footfall has plummeted drastically, and 80 percent of bookings have been cancelled in the last four days.
'People are obviously scared and don't want to come to Kashmir, so they are sending requests for cancellations. So far, 80 percent of bookings have been cancelled. However, this is secondary. Whatever has happened is unfortunate. We have no regrets about the business; for us, the well-being of our guests is foremost. We hope the situation will improve soon,' said Mushtaq Ahmed Chaya, President of the Kashmir Hotels Association (KHA).
The association held a press conference on Saturday with their business associates, in which travel and tour operators from other parts of the country participated. It was a confidence-building measure.
Chaya, who is also the Founder and Chairman of The Mushtaq Hotel Group, said that the booming tourism in Kashmir was the result of joint efforts and years of hard work. 'The confidence in the whole country had declined over the last 30 years. And now, once again, our credibility has taken a hit. On Saturday, all the people who work with us from across the country had come. Still, there are a good number of tourists in Kashmir… I will say that time is the best healer,' he added.
In 2024, about 29.5 lakh tourists visited the Valley, including 66,000 foreign nationals. The tourist season in Kashmir typically starts around March and lasts until August or September. During the season, the average monthly footfall is 2–3 lakh. As tourists are now calling off their plans to visit Kashmir, many hotels and restaurants, particularly in Pahalgam, have closed.
Despite the slump in the Union Territory following the incident, industry leaders—including hoteliers and tour operators in the Valley—are hopeful of a resurgence in business.
Rajiv Mehra, General Secretary of the Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism & Hospitality (FAITH), said that while some cancellations are inevitable, with support from all stakeholders, tourism will surely bounce back.
'FAITH stands shoulder to shoulder with our brothers and sisters in Jammu & Kashmir's tourism and hospitality sector. We share in their pain and reaffirm our unwavering support. The resilience of the people of Kashmir has always inspired us. Today, more than ever, they need our solidarity, compassion, and encouragement,' said Mehra.
Jyoti Mayal, Chairperson of the Tourism and Hospitality Skill Council (THSC), also emphasized the need for unity in the tourism industry. 'Kashmiris are certainly resilient. I think we just need to stand together to condemn the attack and support them in every way we can—by supporting tourism. We'll have to work on making it a safe destination again,' she said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
11 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Homebuyers and developers can now opt for physical or virtual hearings as MahaRERA adopts a hybrid model
The Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MahaRERA) has announced that, in line with Bombay High Court directions, it will allow physical hearings of complaints and non-compliance applications in addition to the existing online system. Societies, homebuyers, and developers can continue filing complaints and applications online, with the option of choosing either physical or virtual hearings before any MahaRERA bench. MahaRERA update: The regulatory authority has issued a circular outlining the standard operating procedure for hybrid hearings. (Representational photo)(Pexels) In July 2025, the Bombay High Court directed MahaRERA to implement a hybrid mechanism to ensure litigants have the option of a physical hearing. In response to this order, MahaRERA issued a circular on August 11 outlining the standard operating procedure. According to the circular, societies, homebuyers, and developers can continue filing complaints and applications online while opting for either physical or virtual hearings before any MahaRERA bench. Requests for physical hearings must be submitted through the respective party's login. The daily cause list will now specify the seating arrangements of each bench, and all orders will be uploaded with timestamps. How can homebuyers opt for a physical hearing? As per the circular, complainants who wish to opt for physical hearings must submit a written request through their respective login. Also Read: MahaRERA update: Maharashtra regulator surpasses 50,000 project registrations in 8 years The Bombay High Court case The order directing MahaRERA to resume physical hearings came in response to a petition filed by Mumbai resident Mayur Desai. According to a Bar and Bench report, he had challenged the continued absence of physical hearings and sought structured guidelines to streamline the execution of orders passed by the Authority. The Court noted that before the COVID-19 pandemic, MahaRERA conducted hearings physically. While the shift to virtual hearings during the pandemic was understandable, the report stated that the insistence on virtual-only hearings post-pandemic was procedurally restrictive and systemically opaque. Also Read: MahaRERA pulls up real estate developer for allotting parking in a different wing, cites deficiency in service Following the court's directions, MahaRERA said it has laid down the procedure for physical hearings. A senior MahaRERA official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: 'Even before the Bombay HC order, we were allowing physical hearings upon request. However, most parties preferred virtual hearings as they found them more convenient.' Also Read: Can homebuyers refuse possession of an apartment if the developer fails to provide a car parking space? The move is expected to bring relief to stakeholders in Mumbai's real estate sector, where thousands of disputes remain pending before the Authority. As of June 2025, MahaRERA has handled 29,374 complaints against 5,508 real estate projects in Maharashtra. Of these, 3,473 projects were ongoing before MahaRERA's launch in May 2017, while 2,035 were registered after the regulatory framework came into effect.
Hans India
41 minutes ago
- Hans India
Seafood exporters seek Centre's help
Bhimavaram: The Seafood Exporters Association of India (SEAI) has appealed to the Central government for financial assistance, stating that the industry is facing a severe crisis due to a recent 25% tariff imposed by the United States. A delegation led by Union Minister of State for Steel and Heavy Industries Bhupatiraju Srinivasa Varma met Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman at Parliament on Tuesday to submit a memorandum. The delegation included SEAI President Pavan Kumar, CEO Dr Raghavan, National Committee members I Gangaram and Poojitha, along with MPs Sana Satish Babu and Beeda Masthan Rao. According to Pavan Kumar, the new 25% tariff, combined with existing countervailing duty (CVD) and anti-dumping duties, has burdened Indian exporters with an additional cost of nearly 35%. This has led to a drastic decline in exports to the US and threatens the livelihoods of an estimated 2.8 crore people, including fishermen, farmers, and processing unit workers. India is the world's second-largest seafood exporter, with exports reaching $8 billion in the fiscal year 2023-24. The US market alone accounts for 25% of this total. The SEAI expressed concern that the new tariffs would severely impact exports to the US, affecting not only exporters but also millions of aqua farmers, processing and packaging workers, and transport personnel. It is estimated that around 25 lakh people nationwide will be directly or indirectly affected by this crisis. To overcome the crisis, the SEAI has submitted several proposals to the government. They urged the government to provide soft loans at a low interest rate (below 5%) to exporters, similar to the relief provided during the COVID-19 pandemic, extend export-related credit facilities for all seafood exporters for up to 240 days, offer 8% financial assistance on the FOB (Free On Board) value of exports to the US and an additional 2% assistance for exports to other countries, and announce special financial aid for small and medium-sized aqua farmers to protect them from losses. The SEAI is hopeful that implementing these measures will help the industry stabilise and protect the livelihoods of the 2.8 crore people dependent on it. Pavan Kumar stated that the finance minister listened attentively to their concerns and assured them that the government would review the situation and take appropriate action. Pavan Kumar stated that they also met Andhra Pradesh Minister for Human Resources Nara Lokesh, who was currently in Delhi, and submitted a memorandum requesting measures to protect the industry. The meeting, which took place under the leadership of Union Minister Bhupatiraju Srinivas Varma, was also attended by Union Minister for Civil Aviation K Rammohan Naidu and MPs Lavu Srikrishna Devarayalu and Ganti Harish. Since Andhra Pradesh accounts for the largest share of aqua product exports, the representatives appealed to both the central and state governments to take immediate, coordinated action to save the sector. Minister Nara Lokesh assured them that he would bring the issue to the attention of Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and work towards a suitable solution.
New Indian Express
an hour ago
- New Indian Express
Kerala's ‘bold voice' to debunk false narratives on industrial landscape
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) has launched a YouTube Podcast to counter the misconceptions surrounding Kerala's industrial landscape. Titled 'Backwaters and Boardrooms', the podcast features engaging conversations with successful entrepreneurs based in the state. C Balagopal, chairman of KSIDC, said debunking the false narrative is important to attract more investors. 'Kerala is leading the country in all round economic development, as is evident from the state's numero uno position in the NITI Aayog's PAI ratings based on the SDGs since the ratings started. The misconception related to Kerala's industrial scenario is based on negative narratives in the media and a sharply polarised political system,' he said. 'Kerala's economy showed unparalleled resilience despite the 2018 and 2019 floods and the 2020-21 Covid pandemic. Still, between 2000-2024, the state's compounded annual growth rate in GSDP matched all India average and was among the top states. These are important factors from an investor point of view,' he said.
