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Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Vacation rush to tourist hot spots in south India
Kolkata: As temperatures soar across India, tourists are increasingly turning to hill stations in south India for their summer getaways. Popular destinations like Munnar, Ooty and Kodaikanal have emerged as popular destinations for holidayers from Kolkata. Also in demand are Wayanad and Thekkady in Kerala; Yercaud in Tamil Nadu; Coorg, Chikkamagaluru and Nandi Hills in Karnataka; and Araku Valley in Andhra Pradesh. Several of these destinations combine colonial charm with natural beauty, featuring tea plantations, scenic lakes, and pleasant weather throughout the summer months. "Hill stations like Ooty and Kodaikanal witnessed consistent footfall, with tickets being booked well in advance," said Indian Association of Tour Operators chairman (West Bengal) Debjit Dutta. The accessibility and well-developed infrastructure of these destinations make them particularly attractive to families and group travelers. Kerala's hill stations are gaining prominence among tourists seeking less crowded alternatives. Wayanad, with its lush forests and wildlife sanctuaries, has emerged as a favourite among nature enthusiasts. "Although not promoted as extensively as other destinations, Kerala's hill stations offer exceptional natural beauty," said Travel Agent Association of India chairman (east) Anjani Dhanuka. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo "There has also been a rise in footfall in forests like Jim Corbett and Ranthambore. Goa remains an all-time favourite among travellers for all seasons. Gujarat saw a spike in tourism as the IPL final was held there," informed Travel Agents Federation of India managing committee member Anil Punjabi. Kashmir, Uttarakhand and Sikkim that are usually popular summer destinations have seen footfall plummet due to the terror strike at Pahalgam and landslide in Sikkim. Many are avoiding Uttarakhand because places here are also prone to landslides. Darjeeling closer home continues to be a top draw. But the Western Ghats region has seen increased interest from travellers looking for peaceful getaways that offer trekking, wildlife spotting, and other cultural experiences, said Paperboat Holidays director Arunodoy Dey.
Time of India
26-04-2025
- Time of India
‘Hope minutes of terror have not wiped out 2 yrs' rebuilding efforts'
1 2 3 Kolkata: The travel trade industry in Kolkata is grappling with massive cancellations following Tuesday's terror attack at Baisaran Valley in Kashmir, potentially undoing two years of rebuilding efforts. Reports from Kashmir indicate over 90% of summer bookings were cancelled between Wednesday and Friday. Indian Association of Tour Operators Bengal chapter Chairman Debjit Dutta noted that domestic tourist numbers grew significantly from 1.8 crore in 2002 to 2 crore in 2023. "It took years to build tourist confidence in Kashmir. After the revocation of special status and peaceful elections, tourism flourished, creating thousands of jobs. As protests and violence decreased, tourist confidence soared. Many Southeast Asian tourist groups were planning visits. But all that may now be lost," Dutta said. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata While Kashmir has faced various challenges, including insurgency in the mid-1990s, the Kargil War, protests in the 2000s, and the Pulwama attack, Travel Agents Federation of India Chairman (East) Bilolaksa Das fears this targeted killing of tourists based on religious identity may have dealt the severest blow to tourism. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Google Brain Co-Founder Andrew Ng, Recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Around Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo Pradyumna Majumdar, who travelled with his family before the attack, observed significant improvements since his 2005 visit. "Tourism infrastructure improved; services were better. The people have always been friendly, and it felt much safer than two decades ago. That's why the incident was particularly shocking," he said. Md Mudassir, a hotel manager in the valley, said, "This is the first time terrorists targeted tourists. We hope tourism recovers. We're looking to the upcoming Amarnath Yatra starting July 3 from Pahalgam for business revival." Travel Agents' Association of India Chairman (East) Anjani Dhanuka reported that hotels in Pahalgam were cleared out on administrative orders. "The place that was thriving until Tuesday evening now resembles a ghost town. Only Srinagar hotels are full as people wait to leave Kashmir. Once the exodus ends, they too will face closure due to lack of business," he said. Shah Rouhi, a Srinagar travel agency owner, said, "We've always treated tourists as family members. I'm not charging stranded tourists for extra stays and have provided free transport to Srinagar. Though 30-40% arrivals continue, with around 9,600 people visiting the Gulmarg ropeway in the past two days and good attendance at the tulip festival."
Time of India
23-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Homecoming hurdle: Flight fares skyrocket, all seats booked till Fri
Kolkata: No seat was available on any direct flight between Srinagar and Kolkata until Friday, as panic-stricken tourists were anxious to rush home after the terror attack in Pahalgam. As a double whammy, flight fares skyrocketed, forcing tourists to try to book a journey home via Delhi. Those who tried to book flights from Srinagar to Kolkata on Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning were in for a shock, with fares hovering between Rs 34,000 and Rs 81,000, instead of Rs 12,000-Rs 15,000 before the attack. Th-ose who could afford it, grabbed the few available seats. "Air fares to Kolkata and other major Indian cities have gone through the roof since the terror attack on Tuesday. We have been calling for a maximum retail price on flight tickets to ensure dynamic pricing does not cause distress in times of calamity, be it natural disasters or man-made ones. While fares will go up when demand increases, there must be a cap," said Indian Association of Tour Operators chairman Debjit Dutta. IndiGo and Air India Express operate one daily direct flight each between Srinagar and Kolkata, all of which were booked until Friday. "The only way to return from Srinagar is by flight but prices are extremely high. Flights from Srinagar to Kolkata cost over Rs 36,000. How can airlines exploit such situations? Shouldn't they keep fares normal to help those who are stranded?" wrote techie Sudip Das from Kolkata, now stuck in Kashmir. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo Though Union civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu advised airlines to increase flights in response to heightened demand and ensure uninterrupted connectivity from Srinagar to various destinations across India, there was no addition to the two direct flights between Srinagar and Kolkata until Wednesday evening. Two additional flights were deployed to fly out stranded tourists to Delhi and Mumbai. Airlines, however, paid heed to the minister's request to waive cancellation and rescheduling fees for tourists whose trips to Kashmir were getting cancelled. Air India and other airlines announced the waiver. "We have extended waivers for rescheduling or cancellations for travel until April 30, applicable to bookings made on or before April 22," Indigo announced on X. Air India Express said: "We are waiving all change and cancellation fees for our flights to and from Srinagar until 30 April 2025." In case of Kolkata-to-Srinagar flights, the lack of demand saw prices crash from Rs 18,000-Rs 22,000 to Rs 10,000-Rs 13,000 on Thursday. The fares are low until May 9, after which they begin to steadily increase to Rs 16,000-Rs 20,000. "If the situation does not get resolved by then and things remain volatile, fares will again drop," said an airline official.
Time of India
22-04-2025
- Time of India
Tourists back from Valley thank their luck for near-miss, others wait & watch
Kolkata: The terror attack at Pahalgam's Baisaran Valley , popularly known as the 'Switzerland of India', was a black day for the Indian tourism sector, travel trade industry officials told TOI, citing the unprecedented attack that targeted tourists, killing at least 26, including one from Kolkata. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "There have been terror attacks on tourists in European cities, such as Berlin, Manchester and Barcelona. But India has never witnessed something like this, even in Kashmir or Manipur. This does not augur well at all not only for Kashmir but also Indian tourism as a whole," said Debjit Dutta, chairman of the Bengal chapter of Indian Association of Tour Operators. While Kashmir attracted 16 lakh domestic tourists last year, around 30% of the national figure or nearly 5 lakh visitors were from Bengal, with travellers from Gujarat making up as many numbers. "Tourists from Kolkata and the rest of Bengal are all over Kashmir. You can hear Bengali conversations almost everywhere. I am sure there will be many Bengali tourists in Pahalgam as well and hope they are all safe," said Bhaswaran Bhattacharya, who conducts off-beat tours and has taken several groups from Kolkata to Kashmir 10 times since the end of the pandemic. In fact, he returned to Kolkata from Kashmir on Tuesday with a travelling group. He said two group tours to Kashmir were again slated for May and he had his fingers crossed. "Around 60% tourists visit Kashmir between April and June. The attacks will have a significant impact on tourism this summer," said Travel Agents' Federation of India managing committee member Anil Punjabi, whose cellphone has not stopped ringing ever since the news of attack started making the rounds. People have been calling Punjabi up, anxious about their travel plans. Fellow travel agents are also unsure whether they should begin cancellations or not. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Avijit Chakraborty, who recently returned from a Kashmir trip, said a chill ran down his spine when he heard the news about the attacks. "We were in Kashmir only last week. There were 12 of us, all family members. We also went to Pahalgam and Baisaran Valley, where the attack happened. The first thought that sprang to my mind was thank God, this did not happen when we were there. But it feels terrible that the paradise we just witnessed is now stained by blood," said Chakraborty, who lives in Birati and works at a private firm. Though Chakraborty and his family members never felt unsafe or even considered the possibility of a terror attack during the trip, Calcutta High Court advocate Indrajit Bhattacharya, who returned from Kashmir on Monday night with wife Sumoumita and son Sreehanjit, said he was slightly apprehensive during their stay there. "We went to the Tulip Festival in Srinagar and then visited Gulmarg, Sonmarg, Doodhpathri, Chandanwari, Pahalgam, Betab Valley and Aru Valley. My wife and son thoroughly enjoyed the eight-day tour. But I was slightly apprehensive. Somehow, I had a nagging fear at the back of my mind. It now appears I had a premonition," said Bhattacharya. Travel Agents' Association of India managing committee member Manav Soni said the attack could derail tourism in the valley that surged in the past couple of years. "Demand was consistent all year round. It emerged as a very popular destination among Kolkatans. We are trying to allay fears, but a clearer picture will emerge only on Wednesday when there is more information," he said. Insurance executive Arup Karmakar, who is in Srinagar at the fag-end of an eight-day trip, hoped the situation would normalise soon. "It will be a pity if people don't get to enjoy the beauty of Kashmir and the hospitality of its people. We visited Pahalgam on the very first day of the trip and went to Baisaran Valley on horseback. It was a surreal experience," recounted Karmakar, who lives in Jalpaiguri town.
