Latest news with #BoycottKashmir
NDTV
3 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
On 'Boycott Kashmir' Trend, Omar Abdullah's Big Appeal To Centre
Omar Abdullah was cycling on Tuesday in Pahalgam. On Wednesday, he was on a Gondola (cable car) ride in Gulmarg. The aim, he says, is to revive the tourist season, which suffered a body blow due to the deadly terror attack in the picturesque Pahalgam. The visits by Mr Abdullah were also a counter to the "don't go to Kashmir" narrative and the "boycott Kashmir" campaign being run by some. "Terrorists also want this, that you don't go to Kashmir. Those people are enemies of this country. They are not only enemies of Kashmir, they are enemies of the country. Of India. They are enemies of India who are running such a campaign. Because they are doing the same work as the terrorists did on April 22," the Chief Minister told NDTV. "This Boycott Kashmir campaign is to strengthen the hands of those people. And if these people want to do this, then let them do it. But I would like the central government to use its agencies and identify which people and which forces are running the boycott Kashmir campaign and take the strictest action against them," Mr Abdullah said. Earlier on Wednesday, Mr Abdullah, 55, took his council of ministers and the whole administrative set up to a picturesque resort in north Kashmir's Baramulla district for a meeting aimed at negating the perception of fear in the Valley. This came a day after a meeting of the council of ministers at a resort in south Kashmir's Pahalgam. Having met tour operators, the Chief Minister said that they want to promote Jammu and Kashmir and especially Kashmir. "Tourism should gradually get a revival and this is our hope and this is our effort," he said after meeting tour operators from Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi. The Chief Minister said he was hoping that there would only be 20 tour operators in the meeting, but that number rose to 70. "We have come to thank the tourists who are associated with our tourism industry, to boost their morale and to send a message that the April 22 attack will not derail us from our mission," the Chief Minister underlined. On April 22, terrorists attacked holidaymakers enjoying picturesque Pahalgam, in a lush valley beneath snowcapped Himalayan peaks. Survivors said the attackers separated the men, asked several about their religion, and shot them at close range. All 26 killed were Indian nationals, except one from Nepal. Most were Hindus. One was a Kashmiri Muslim who gave horse rides for tourists. "The terrorists want that there should be no progress here; they want that the environment should remain spoiled. They don't want the tourists to come here. But God willing, we will succeed," he said. Asked if he was satisfied with the efforts and the tourist revival has begun, Mr Abdullah said,"There is still a lot to do. We have taken the first two steps. This is just the beginning. We will continue to do more." Mr Adbullah met the tourists with warm handshakes and smile, sought feedback about their Kashmir visit and happily posed for photographs and selfies with them. The chief minister appealed to the tourists to promote the Valley as a safe and peaceful destination. "Met tourists at Gulmarg and was pleased to hear their encouraging feedback. Their joy and appreciation reflect the growing confidence in Kashmir as a welcoming and vibrant destination," he posted on X.
The Hindu
27-04-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Nearly 80% tourist bookings to Kashmir cancelled
Eighty per cent of tourist bookings to Kashmir have been cancelled in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, the Kashmir Hotel Association (KHA) said in Srinagar on Saturday (April 26, 2025). Also read: Pahalgam attack aftermath highlights April 27, 2025 'There have been 80% cancellations in bookings. We can understand. It is justified and natural given what happened,' Mushtaq Chaya, chairman, KHA, said. Mr. Chaya said tourism stakeholders in Jammu and Kashmir were not worried by the dent to business 'but are sad with the fact that the incident took place on our soil'. 'The people of Kashmir have condemned the act. Everyone joined the protest and observed a shutdown, which happened for the first time. Time is the best healer,' he said. Also read: Pahalgam terror attack: Hotels asked to forgo cancellation fees for J&K Satish Vaishya, head of the Mumbai-based Pooja Holidays, extended support to tourism in Kashmir. 'Kashmir sees phases of growing tourism and slumps in a cyclic manner. The tough events of 2010 were followed by the 2014 floods, and then (abrogation of) Article 370 in 2019. We saw the 'Boycott Kashmir' campaign after the Pulwama attack in 2019. However, we have always supported the 'Love Kashmir, Promote Kashmir' campaign. I am hopeful tourism will pick up again,' Mr. Vaishya, speaking at a press conference in Srinagar, said. Also read: Six in 10 families cancel travel plans to Kashmir, finds survey The Pahalgam terror attack has hit the tourism industry badly in Kashmir. Thousands of tourists have cut short their holiday in Kashmir, and left by special flights and trains after the Pahalgam terror attack of April 22, 2025. Businesspersons condemn Meanwhile, a delegation of the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry, headed by Javid Ahmad Tenga, on Saturday (April 26, 2025) met with J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at the Raj Bhavan here 'to express the business community's condemnation of the gruesome Pahalgam attack on innocent civilians'. 'The heinous attack has deeply wounded the soul of Kashmir, and left every citizen shattered and bereaved,' the KCCI delegation told the L-G. Mr. Tenga stressed that this was not a time to discuss business losses. 'The KCCI deeply feel the pain of every innocent life lost. These tragic deaths transcend economic considerations and strike at the very heart of society and shared humanity,' he said. The KCCI sought the L-G's support in facilitating a visit to meet and express solidarity with the families of the Pahalgam terror attack victims. The L-G assured support would be made available at the appropriate time, the KCCI said. The KCCI also expressed concern over the targeting of Kashmiri students, businesspersons, and others residing outside the Union Territory. The industry body reiterated its commitment to peace and progress in J&K, and offered full support for the success of the Amarnath Yatra this year.
