Latest news with #ChaloKashmir
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
- 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.
Hindustan Times
21-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
‘Chalo Kashmir' campaign a glimmer of hope for Valley tourism
With tourism industry in a state of crisis in the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack, and the Jammu and Kashmir government adopting a 'wait and watch policy', the 'Chalo Kashmir' campaign launched by travel agencies in Kolkata and some Himalayan region is a glimmer of hope for the sector. Tourism stakeholders, albeit agreeing that revival of the sector will take some time, say that this will have a positive impact on tourist arrivals across the Valley. They say tourist arrivals dried up after the April 22 terror attack at Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives, 25 tourists and a local. J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah said they will wait for the situation to improve for the revival of tourism. 'Tourism has been hit but for now, we are not doing anything regarding its revival. Let the situation first improve and after that, we will sit with the stakeholders and chalk out a plan for the revival of tourism,' Omar told reporters in Ganderbal. There has been a positive response from some travel agencies, particularly in West Bengal. According to reports, nearly 100 travel agencies and affiliated partners in Kolkata have united under the 'Chalo Kashmir' campaign, to show support for tourism revival. Travel Agents Association of Kashmir (TAAK) expressed gratitude for the campaign. 'Not only Kolkata travel agencies, the support has come from Maharashtra and Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI). They held meetings and pledged support to Kashmir to promote it as a tourist destination. They also want to hold its annual/biannual meetings here, giving message that they are with Kashmir tourism,' said TAAK secretary general Sajad Ahmad Kralyari. He said such initiatives will help the revival of the sector. 'Gestures like these will obviously help. But the revival will be 20-30%, which otherwise would have been 100% till September,' he said. The Valley saw an exodus of tourists after the Pahalgam attack. 'After the attack, there was an instant cancellation of 80% of the bookings. After the war-like situation, the cancellations reached 95%. There was some inflow of tourists for the past few days after airfares and hotel tariffs went down. The hoteliers here have cut rates by almost 30%,' said Sameer Ahmad, a travel agent in Srinagar. Kashmir has witnessed record tourist arrivals for the past three years. According to J&K tourism department, nearly 35 lakh tourists visited the Himalayan valley last year, up from 31.55 lakh in 2023 and 26.73 lakh in 2022. This year, the number had crossed 6 lakh before the Pahalgam attack.
NDTV
20-05-2025
- Business
- NDTV
"Chalo Kashmir": Travel Association's New Campaign Aims To Restore Tourism In J&K
Jammu and Kashmir remains one of the most iconic, scenic and culturally significant destinations in India and globally. 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. TAAI, the oldest and largest association representing the travel, tourism and hospitality industry in India, said the campaign aims to restore the region's vibrancy and support tourism revival. According to official data, tourism in Kashmir saw record numbers in 2024. Jammu and Kashmir witnessed a historic footfall of 2.35 crore tourists during the year, PTI reported. This included domestic travellers, pilgrims visiting Amarnath and Vaishno Devi, and around 65,000 foreign tourists. "While recent disturbances have raised concerns, they cannot diminish the timeless appeal of the region. An incident meant to cause disruption cannot take away the legacy of Jammu and Kashmir," TAAI said in a press statement. "By encouraging travel to Jammu and Kashmir, we support local livelihoods and send a message of resilience, unity and hope," the association added. At a meeting held on May 16, 2025, the Managing Committee and Chapter Chairpersons of TAAI passed a unanimous resolution to promote travel to Jammu and Kashmir in an active and sustained manner. 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. Key Initiatives Under "Let's Visit J&K" Campaign: Coordination with J&K Government: TAAI has requested the Hon'ble Chief Minister and concerned authorities to implement strong safety measures for all visitors to the Union Territory. Support From The Hospitality Sector: The campaign plans to coordinate with hotels and local tourism operators to offer special promotional packages and personalised services to tourists. Engagement With Airlines: Airlines are being invited to offer promotional fares to make travel to Jammu and Kashmir more affordable and appealing. Mobilising Local Network: The TAAI J&K Chapter, which includes over 100 member companies from the travel and tourism sector, is actively participating in the campaign. The Campaign's Message To Travellers Across India:
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
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.
