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News18
10-07-2025
- Politics
- News18
'I Invite Didi': CM Abdullah Thanks Mamata For Support After Pahalgam, Says J&K 'Safe' For Tourists
CM Omar Abdullah said his government is committed to encouraging people to visit Kashmir, offering options from destination weddings to luxury stays, all with guaranteed safety Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday extended an invitation to his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee to visit his state, while also promising safety and luxury to tourists who decide to return to the Valley. Thanking Banerjee for her support after the Pahalgam terror attack in April, Abdullah said his government is committed to encouraging people to visit Kashmir, offering options from destination weddings to luxury stays, all with guaranteed safety. 'After the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor, Didi sent a team to Poonch and Rajouri to meet the affected families and provide necessary help. I am thankful to her," Abdullah said during a visit to Kolkata, where he also met Banerjee. 'I want to extend an invitation to Didi to visit J&K and, in the future, I hope Bengal and J&K can work together for the betterment of trade, tourism, and our overall relations. It is our duty to provide full support and safety to tourists from Bengal." Tourism in Kashmir faced a major setback after the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives, but efforts are on to revive the industry. Abdullah is travelling across states to encourage people to choose Kashmir as their preferred tourist destination once again. He spent a day in Kolkata, taking part at the 'Travel and Tourism Fair' to promote Kashmir. At least 50 representatives accompanied him to support the 'Chalo Kashmir' campaign. 'Earlier, tourism in Pahalgam and the rest of Jammu and Kashmir pretty much took care of itself. There was no need for active promotion. In fact, we had almost reached a point where we had more tourists than we could handle, and we were participating in various trade fairs to showcase Jammu and Kashmir," he said at an event. Despite concerns over safety, the chief minister assured Bengali tourists of their protection in every possible way. Pinky, representing a travel and tourism agency, welcomed everyone and promised the best hospitality during Durga Puja. 'We welcome you all. With Durga Puja coming up, we promise the best hospitality. Those who carried out the attack wanted to destroy our business, but things are picking up again. Kashmir is Jannat (paradise) and you must come," she told News18. Faizan, another travel agent, expressed optimism noting that Bengal is a significant market for Kashmir and they are dedicated to regaining people's confidence. 'We are hopeful. Bengal is one of our biggest markets, and I am sure we will give our best to regain people's confidence. All forms of tourism are important to us," he told News18. It is evident that Abdullah and his team are focused on reviving tourism in Kashmir. After Kolkata, they plan to visit Ahmedabad and other cities to continue promoting the region. The 'Chalo Kashmir' campaign, also known as 'Let's Visit J&K' was launched by the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI). It is aimed at reviving tourism in Kashmir, particularly after the Pahalgam attack. The campaign seeks to reassure travellers and promote Kashmir as a safe and welcoming destination. Anjani Kumar Dhanuka, chairman of the Eastern Region of TAAI, noted the emotional connection between West Bengal and Kashmir with it being the second most loved destination after Darjeeling. 'Let me highlight a key insight – for the people of West Bengal, Kashmir ranks as the second most loved destination after Darjeeling. That is the emotional connection we share. Before the unfortunate incident in Pahalgam, travel volumes from West Bengal to Kashmir were steadily growing. Although I cannot mention exact numbers now, we are confident that this roadshow and continued support from the government will revive and even surpass those figures in the near future," Dhanuka said. view comments First Published: July 10, 2025, 23:49 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
12-06-2025
- Time of India
Snow will melt, spring will come again: Omar
1 2 3 Srinagar: "What happened on April 22 will not be quickly forgotten. But the winter will go, snow will melt, and spring will come again," J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah said on Wednesday. Abdullah's words, at a convention hosted by Travel Agents Association of India in Srinagar, were both an admission of pain and a promise of renewal in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives and left the Valley's booming tourism industry in turmoil. The CM was addressing stakeholders attending the 'Chalo Kashmir' and 'Rally for Valley' campaigns, both aimed at reviving tourist confidence in the region. He acknowledged the steep decline in tourism after April 22, with flight prices plunging from Rs 22,000 to Rs 3,500 and hotel rates nosediving from Rs 80,000 to Rs 25,000 — and rooms are still vacant. "We had 50 flights operating every day and all flights were packed. Now it's down to 15 and tickets can be available even an hour before the journey," he said candidly. Abdullah painted a bleak picture of livelihoods disrupted — taxi drivers, pony owners, tour guides, hoteliers and homestay operators struggling to survive. "The rich can wait it out. But for the poor who upgraded a four-room house to a homestay, or upgraded from a sedan to an Innova on loan — it's devastating," he said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Forget Furosemide, Use This Household Item To Help Drain Edema Fluid WellnessGuide Learn more Undo Yet, amid the grim statistics, Abdullah called for hope and gratitude. "We locals started complaining... the flight ticket prices, traffic jams at the tulip garden, the gondola queues. Maybe the great power above listened to us — and within hours, it all vanished," he said. "I was inches from imposing a tourism tax," the CM added with a wry smile, "because I thought we had finally reached the point where J&K could earn from tourism. But wiser voices said, 'Not yet'. And see — here we are, starting from scratch again." Abdullah said this lull was being used to boost infrastructure. "We have new things. We didn't have the train journey earlier. Rain was a major threat for flights and road travel. Now we have a wonderful train journey along the highest rail bridge and the only cable-stay bridge in Kashmir," he said. Govt is also focusing on enhancing the carrying capacity of popular destinations. The Gulmarg gondola was undergoing upgrades to reduce wait times, while expansions were taking place at the tulip garden to host more visitors next spring, he said. Abdullah emphasised that while terrorism aimed to instil fear, response from Kashmiris was of unity and defiance. "For the first time after such an attack, people came out on their own. They said: this is not in our name. We are not with this attack," he said. The CM concluded with an appeal for solidarity: "We need your support in this hour of crisis. Spring will come again. But we must stand together to make sure it blossoms." Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Business
- 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
- 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.
