Latest news with #Chaya
Time of India
12-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Kashmiri hoteliers want PM Modi to appeal tourists to visit Valley
PM Modi (File photo) SRINAGAR: With the tourism sector in Kashmir hit hard by the Pahalgam terror attack, hoteliers and other stakeholders have sought the intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi , and also plan to reach out to policymakers and influencers. Tourists had cancelled their bookings in Kashmir in large numbers following the massacre of 26 people at Pahalgam's Baisaran valley on April 22. Mushtaq Chaya, chairman of J&K Hoteliers Club, on Monday said in Srinagar that PM Modi's voice is most important to bring life again to the tourism sector in Kashmir Valley. He said tourist associations will seek an appointment with the PM, and will request him to appeal to the countrymen to visit the Valley. He also welcomed the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, calling it a wise decision. Expressing hope of resumption of flights to Srinagar soon, he said this will ensure tourism flow. He made a fervent appeal to tourists from across the country to visit Kashmir, saying the situation has now stabilised and they should experience the beauty and hospitality of the Valley once again. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Learn How Smart Traders Use Data to Navigate Volatile Markets News Portal Try Now Undo Chaya further said that hoteliers in J&K will be inviting prominent YouTubers, influencers, writers and policy makers across the country, and will ask them to post their views and reviews. He said social media influencers have played a positive role, and will be given special facilities to project Kashmir. The hoteliers will also meet J&K LG Manoj Sinha and chief minister Omar Abdullah, and will urge them to announce special packages for tourists and take steps to restore their confidence, Chaya said. On a travel advisory issued by the US on May 7, asking its citizens to avoid visiting J&K, Chaya asserted that domestic tourists were 'more than enough'. Kashmir had seen a huge surge in tourism last year, with nearly 35 lakh people visiting the UT, including 5.11 lakh Amarnath pilgrims. The relative peace in the past few years has seen huge investment in the tourism economy, especially in the construction of guest houses and hotels, with locals in even remote areas converting their homes into home stays and tourist facilities. Chaya said 30 lakh Kashmiris are at present involved directly in the tourism sector, and 3 lakh of them are directly working in hotels and other tourism related businesses. He said the hotels have not removed any employee, and are hopeful that tourists will return to Kashmir.
Scroll.in
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Scroll.in
After Pahalgam attack, 48 tourist sites in Kashmir shut due to security concerns
Forty-eight of the 87 public parks and gardens in the Kashmir Valley have been closed to the public in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, PTI reported on Tuesday, quoting unidentified officials. The destinations that have been closed for inadequate security measures include the Gurez valley, Dodapathri, Verinag, the Bangus valley and Yusmarg, according to The Indian Express. The authorities have also decided to bar tourists from visiting Srinagar's Jamia Masjid. While the authorities have not issued a formal order about the closure, entry to these places has been stopped, PTI reported. The decision comes a week after the terror attack at Baisaran on April 22 left 26 persons dead and 17 injured. The terrorists targeted tourists after asking their names to ascertain their religion, the police said. All but three of those killed were Hindu. On Saturday, the Kashmir Hotel Association in Srinagar said that 80% of tourist bookings in the valley have been cancelled in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack. 'There have been 80% cancellations in bookings,' said Mushtaq Chaya, chairperson of the association. 'We can understand. It is justified and natural given what happened.' Stakeholders in the tourism industry in the Union Territory were not worried by the dent to business, Chaya said, adding that they were 'sad with the fact that the incident took place on our soil'. India's Ministry of External Affairs had on April 24 also announced that the visas of Pakistani citizens in India would stand revoked from Sunday and that they had to leave the country before then. India also suspended visa services to Pakistani citizens with immediate effect. Following this, at least 537 Pakistani citizens left India through the Attari-Wagah border crossing in Punjab. Eighty-one Pakistani nationals left India on Saturday, 191 on Friday and 28 on Thursday. In addition, 342 Indians returned on Saturday, 287 on Friday and 105 on Thursday.
New Indian Express
27-04-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Kashmir tourism stumbles after Pahalgam terror attack, but industry leaders remain hopeful
NEW DELHI: 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.
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.
News18
26-04-2025
- Business
- News18
‘Whole System Is Down, Like Going Back To 1990s': How Pahalgam Attack Is Bleeding Kashmir Tourism
The April 22 terror attack has triggered widespread cancellations by tourists, hotel bookings are down, and many tour operators are reporting a sharp fall in enquiries The horrific Pahalgam terror attack this week, which claimed the lives of 26 people, mostly tourists, has also predictably come as a huge setback for Kashmir's tourism industry. 'We have let go of close to 500 people from our seven hotels. Others have too," Naseem Chaya, managing director of Mushtaq Group of Hotels, which has a collaboration with the Radisson Group for the Radisson Collection hotel in Srinagar, told CNN-News18. Tourism is the backbone of the Kashmir valley's economy and has been actively promoted by the government and Indian carriers. Arrivals hit a record high of more than 3 million last year, from fewer than 831,000 in 2018, with post-Covid travel trends on an upswing, government data showed. However, the April 22 terror attack has triggered widespread cancellations by tourists, hotel bookings are down, and many tour operators are reporting a sharp fall in enquiries. 'In two days, we have had cancellations of Rs 12 crore, for bookings up till May 20," Chaya told CNN-News18. He also expressed concerns about a number of young people losing employment, hinting that a return of stone-pelting incidents cannot be ruled out. 'The whole system in Kashmir is down. It's like going back to the 1990s, when militancy began, unemployment reached its peak, and everything came crashing down," said Chaya. First Published: April 26, 2025, 22:12 IST
