Latest news with #HimachalPradeshTourismStakeholders'Association
Time of India
25-04-2025
- Time of India
Blood in Kashmir sparks a rush in neighbouring mountain states, unfortunately
The recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 tourists, is expected to have significant repercussions on the tourism industry in neighbouring mountain states, particularly Himachal Pradesh . #Pahalgam Terrorist Attack Pakistan suspends Simla pact: What it means & who's affected What is India's defence muscle if it ever has to attack? Can Pakistan afford a full-scale war with India? Following the April 22 attack, a majority of tourists have cancelled their bookings for Kashmir. Experts suggest that Himachal Pradesh may witness an unprecedented increase in both domestic and foreign tourist arrivals. Also Read: Kashmir valley was blooming with business. Now it's stained with blood, again 5 5 Next Stay Playback speed 1x Normal Back 0.25x 0.5x 1x Normal 1.5x 2x 5 5 / Skip Ads by "It's a sad and highly unfortunate incident. This tragedy not only upended the tourism sector in Kashmir but will also impact the neighbouring states of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. I was in the tourism business for more than five decades but never saw or heard of such a heinous thing before," Mohinder Seth, president of the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Stakeholders' Association, told ToI. "While travelling, safety is the topmost concern. This tragedy is likely to divert Kashmir tourists to Himachal Pradesh and also to Uttarakhand. This horror struck just when tourism was getting back on track in a vigorous way in Kashmir," added Seth. Live Events The brutal assault in Pahalgam, a popular tourist destination in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district, left at least 26 civilians dead. After years of militancy, the political upheaval following the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, and the Covid-19 lockdowns, Kashmir's tourism sector had begun to recover. In 2023, a record-breaking 2.1 crore tourists visited the Union Territory, according to an ET report. According to the Economic Survey report (2024-25) for Jammu and Kashmir, tourist footfall increased fourfold since 2021. The number of tourists rose from 6.65 lakh in 2021 to 34.97 lakh, an increase of approximately 425%. The number of foreign visitors also grew from 1,614 in 2021 to 43,654 in 2024. Overall, the entire Jammu and Kashmir region saw a record 2.36 crore tourist arrivals in 2024, including figures for Jammu. The tourism sector contributes 7.2% to Jammu and Kashmir's GDP. In contrast, the tourism industry contributes 7.78% to Himachal Pradesh's state GDP. The state has also seen a rise in tourist footfall after the pandemic-induced slump. As per the Economic Survey report for Himachal Pradesh for 2024-25, the number of domestic visitors increased from 56.32 lakh in 2021 to 1.8 crore in 2024. Foreign travellers also increased from 5,000 in 2021 to 83,000 in 2024. According to Panki Sood, a Kullu-based hotelier promoting sustainable tourism, the terror attack is a major setback for Kashmir tourism. "A whole generation grew up wanting to go to Kashmir, and it was only in the last three years that people's dream of visiting the paradise started coming true. It took decades to build the trust that you are safe in Kashmir. But now that trust is broken. This tragedy pushed back Kashmir tourism at least 15 years," Sood told ToI. Sood described it as a "sad reality" that the tragedy would divert tourism to Himachal and Uttarakhand. "We don't want such tourism, but travellers and tourists don't have any other choice. We may even witness double the tourist traffic this year. We are assuring our brethren in Kashmir that we are standing by them and will help them operate in Himachal if they wish so," added Sood. Experts warn that an increase in tourist numbers will further strain the state's tourism infrastructure. "We don't have too many tourist destinations in the mountains, making everybody head mainly for Himachal Pradesh. The tourist destinations remain chock-a-block, especially during summertime. I think the government needs to strengthen tourism infrastructure, including accommodation, roads, and parking, to accommodate the additional flow of visitors," said Ankur Thakur, a state-based hotelier. Once a busy centre of tourism and business, the scenic region of Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir now faces an uncertain future after the terror attack killed 26 people. The brutal assault, which mainly targeted tourists, has thrown the local tourism industry into crisis, putting at risk the main source of income for many people in the area. For those who have spent years working in Pahalgam, the attack is not only a heartbreaking loss of life but also a serious blow to the heart of their economy—tourism. The town had depended heavily on the yearly flow of visitors, with hotels, restaurants, shops and other services relying on the busy tourist season. But in the wake of the attack, tourism has come to a standstill, hurting businesses and workers who depend entirely on it. Also Read: Pahalgam goes from 'mini-Switzerland' to ghost town in an instant The lieutenant governor of Ladakh, Brig B D Mishra (retd), on Thursday appealed to all stakeholders to welcome tourists with open arms and take necessary measures to increase tourist footfall in Ladakh. In a statement, Mishra said tourism is the lifeline of the people of Ladakh, as the majority are engaged in tourism activities for their livelihood. He urged tourism stakeholders to support tourists and avoid any malpractices that might hamper tourist numbers and affect livelihood opportunities. Mishra expressed optimism about increased tourist visits to Ladakh in 2025 compared to 2024. He also mentioned that appropriate action would be taken against travel advisories issued by the United States and United Kingdom, which categorise Ladakh under Jammu and Kashmir, creating confusion and concern among tourists. (With ToI inputs)
Time of India
25-04-2025
- Time of India
Tourists cancel Kashmir, may now book Himachal Pradesh
A woman walks past closed shops during a 'bandh' called by traders in protest against the Pahalgam terror attack, in Shimla on Thursday. Markets in Kullu, Chamba, Mandi, Bilaspur, Shimla, and Kangra districts remained shut in the morning. In Manali, a protest march was carried out by local BJP leaders and members of right-wing Hindu organisations. Markets also remained closed for a few hours in the Kullu and Anni towns of Kullu district. In Chamba district, protests were held in Churah, Bharmour, and Chamba towns. Markets were also closed in Bilaspur town KULLU: The killing of tourists in Kashmir's Pahalgam is likely to have far-reaching consequences and impact on the tourism sector in neighbouring mountain states, mainly Himachal Pradesh, in an unprecedented way. As a majority of people have cancelled their travel bookings for Kashmir in the wake of the April 22 terror attack, experts point out that Himachal might start witnessing a surge in tourist footfall , both domestic and foreign. Tourist footfall in 2 states "It's a sad and highly unfortunate incident. This tragedy not only upended the tourism sector in Kashmir, but will also impact the neighbouring states of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. I was in the tourism business for more than five decades but never saw or heard of such a heinous thing before," said Mohinder Seth, the president of Himachal Pradesh Tourism Stakeholders' Association. "While travelling, safety is the topmost concern. This tragedy is likely to divert Kashmir tourists to Himachal Pradesh and also to Uttarakhand. This horror struck just when tourism was getting back on track in a vigorous way in Kashmir," added Seth. 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 According to the Economic Survey report (2024-25) for Jammu and Kashmir, tourist footfall had increased in Kashmir four times since 2021. As per the report, Kashmir saw a rise in the number of tourists from 6.65 lakh in 2021 to 34.97 lakh, an increase of around 425%. Along with domestic tourists, there was also an increase in the number of foreign visitors from 1,614 in 2021 to 43,654 in 2024. Overall, the entire Jammu and Kashmir region saw a record 2.36 crore tourist arrivals in 2024. This figure includes the numbers for Jammu. The tourism sector makes up for 7.2% of the GDP of Jammu and Kashmir. On the other hand, the tourism industry contributes 7.78% to the state GDP of Himachal Pradesh, which has also been seeing a rise in tourist footfall after facing a slump during the pandemic years. As per the Economic Survey report for Himachal Pradesh for 2024-25, the number of domestic visitors increased from 56.32 lakh in 2021 to 1.8 crore in 2024. The foreign travellers also increased from 5,000 in 2021 to 83,000 in 2024. According to Panki Sood, a Kullu-based hotelier who promotes sustainable tourism, the terror attack is a major setback for Kashmir tourism. "A whole generation grew up wanting to go to Kashmir, and it was only in the last three years that people's dream of visiting the paradise started coming true. It took decades to build the trust that you are safe in Kashmir. But now that trust is broken. This tragedy pushed back Kashmir tourism at least 15 years," said Sood. Sood called it a "sad reality" that the tragedy would divert tourism to Himachal and Uttarakhand. "We don't want such tourism, but travellers and tourists don't have any other choice. We may even witness double the tourist traffic this year. We are assuring our brethren in Kashmir that we are standing by them and will help them operate in Himachal if they wish so," added Sood. According to experts, an increase in the number of tourists will further pressurise tourism infrastructure in the state. "We don't have too many tourist destinations in the mountains, making everybody head mainly for Himachal Pradesh. The tourist destinations remain chock-a-block, especially during summertime. I think the govt needs to strengthen tourism infrastructure, including accommodation, roads, and parking, to accommodate the additional flow of visitors," said Ankur Thakur, a state-based hotelier. Ladakh guv asks people to welcome tourists The lieutenant governor of Ladakh, Brig B D Mishra (retd), on Thursday appealed to all stakeholders and sought their assistance in welcoming tourists with open arms and taking all necessary measures to increase the footfall of tourists in Ladakh. In a statement, Mishra said tourism is the lifeline of the people of Ladakh, as the majority of people are engaged in tourism activities for their livelihood. He asked tourism stakeholders to welcome and support tourists and not indulge in any malpractices that might hamper the footfall and affect the livelihood opportunities of the people of Ladakh. He stated that going by the trend, he was expecting more tourists to visit Ladakh in 2025 than in 2024. He added appropriate action would be taken against the travel advisories issued by the United States and United Kingdom, categorising the UT of Ladakh under Jammu and Kashmir and thereby creating confusion and concern among foreign and domestic tourists.
Time of India
24-04-2025
- Time of India
Travel bookings cancelled in Kashmir, tourist footfall may rise in Himachal, Uttarakhand
1 2 3 4 Kullu: The killing of tourists in Kashmir's Pahalgam is likely to have far-reaching consequences and impact on the tourism sector in neighbouring mountain states, mainly Himachal Pradesh, in an unprecedented way. As a majority of people have cancelled their travel bookings for Kashmir in the wake of the April 23 terror attack, experts point out that Himachal might start witnessing a surge in tourist footfall , both domestic and foreign. "It's a sad and highly unfortunate incident. This tragedy not only upended the tourism sector in Kashmir, but will also impact the neighbouring states of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. I was in the tourism business for more than five decades but never saw or heard of such a heinous thing before," said Mohinder Seth, the president of Himachal Pradesh Tourism Stakeholders' Association. "While travelling, safety is the topmost concern. This tragedy is likely to divert Kashmir tourists to Himachal Pradesh and also to Uttarakhand. This horror struck just when tourism was getting back on track in a vigorous way in Kashmir," added Seth. According to the Economic Survey report (2024-25) for Jammu and Kashmir, tourist footfall had increased in Kashmir four times since 2021. As per the report, Kashmir saw a rise in the number of tourists from 6.65 lakh in 2021 to 34.97 lakh, an increase of around 425%. Along with domestic tourists, there was also an increase in the number of foreign visitors from 1,614 in 2021 to 43,654 in 2024. Overall, the entire Jammu and Kashmir region saw a record 2.36 crore tourist arrivals in 2024. This figure includes the numbers for Jammu. The tourism sector makes up for 7.2% of the GDP of Jammu and Kashmir. On the other hand, the tourism industry contributes 7.78% to the state GDP of Himachal Pradesh, which has also been seeing a rise in tourist footfall after facing a slump during the pandemic years. As per the Economic Survey report for Himachal Pradesh for 2024-25, the number of domestic visitors increased from 56.32 lakh in 2021 to 1.8 crore in 2024. The foreign travellers also increased from 5,000 in 2021 to 83,000 in 2024. According to Panki Sood, a Kullu-based hotelier who promotes sustainable tourism, the terror attack is a major setback for Kashmir tourism. "A whole generation grew up wanting to go to Kashmir, and it was only in the last three years that people's dream of visiting the paradise started coming true. It took decades to build the trust that you are safe in Kashmir. But now that trust is broken. This tragedy pushed back Kashmir tourism at least 15 years," said Sood. Sood called it a "sad reality" that the tragedy would divert tourism to Himachal and Uttarakhand. "We don't want such tourism, but travellers and tourists don't have any other choice. We may even witness double the tourist traffic this year. We are assuring our brethren in Kashmir that we are standing by them and will help them operate in Himachal if they wish so," added Sood. According to experts, an increase in the number of tourists will further pressurise tourism infrastructure in the state. "We don't have too many tourist destinations in the mountains, making everybody head mainly for Himachal Pradesh. The tourist destinations remain chock-a-block, especially during summertime. I think the govt needs to strengthen tourism infrastructure, including accommodation, roads, and parking, to accommodate the additional flow of visitors," said Ankur Thakur, a state-based hotelier. Box: Tourist Footfall In 2 States Himachal Pradesh Year | Domestic | Foreign 2021 | 56.32 lakh | 5,000 2022 | 1.50 crore | 29,000 2023 | 1.59 crore | 63,000 2024 | 1.8 crore* | 83,000* *Figure up to Dec Kashmir Year | Domestic | Foreign 2021 | 6.64 lakh | 1,614 | 2022 | 26.53 lakh | 19,947 2023 | 31.18 lakh | 37,678 2024 | 34.54 lakh | 43,654 Fall in Covid year in Himachal | Tourist footfall reported a sharp dip in 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic struck the work. The state's domestic tourist footfall came down from 1.68 crore in 2019 to 31.7 lakh in 2020. Foreign tourists fell from 3.8 lakh in 2019 to 43,000 in 2020. Ladakh guv asks people to welcome tourists The lieutenant governor of Ladakh, Brig B D Mishra (retd), on Thursday appealed to all stakeholders and sought their assistance in welcoming tourists with open arms and taking all necessary measures to increase the footfall of tourists in Ladakh. In a statement, Mishra said tourism is the lifeline of the people of Ladakh, as the majority of people are engaged in tourism activities for their livelihood. He asked tourism stakeholders to welcome and support tourists and not indulge in any malpractices that might hamper the footfall and affect the livelihood opportunities of the people of Ladakh. He stated that going by the trend, he was expecting more tourists to visit Ladakh in 2025 than in 2024. He added appropriate action would be taken against the travel advisories issued by the United States and United Kingdom, categorising the UT of Ladakh under Jammu and Kashmir and thereby creating confusion and concern among foreign and domestic tourists. Kullu: The killing of tourists in Kashmir's Pahalgam is likely to have far-reaching consequences and impact on the tourism sector in neighbouring mountain states, mainly Himachal Pradesh, in an unprecedented way. As a majority of people have cancelled their travel bookings for Kashmir in the wake of the Feb 22 terror attack, experts point out that Himachal might start witnessing a surge in tourist footfall, both domestic and foreign. "It's a sad and highly unfortunate incident. This tragedy not only upended the tourism sector in Kashmir, but will also impact the neighbouring states of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. I was in the tourism business for more than five decades but never saw or heard of such a heinous thing before," said Mohinder Seth, the president of Himachal Pradesh Tourism Stakeholders' Association. "While travelling, safety is the topmost concern. This tragedy is likely to divert Kashmir tourists to Himachal Pradesh and also to Uttarakhand. This horror struck just when tourism was getting back on track in a vigorous way in Kashmir," added Seth. According to the Economic Survey report (2024-25) for Jammu and Kashmir, tourist footfall had increased in Kashmir four times since 2021. As per the report, Kashmir saw a rise in the number of tourists from 6.65 lakh in 2021 to 34.97 lakh, an increase of around 425%. Along with domestic tourists, there was also an increase in the number of foreign visitors from 1,614 in 2021 to 43,654 in 2024. Overall, the entire Jammu and Kashmir region saw a record 2.36 crore tourist arrivals in 2024. This figure includes the numbers for Jammu. The tourism sector makes up for 7.2% of the GDP of Jammu and Kashmir. On the other hand, the tourism industry contributes 7.78% to the state GDP of Himachal Pradesh, which has also been seeing a rise in tourist footfall after facing a slump during the pandemic years. As per the Economic Survey report for Himachal Pradesh for 2024-25, the number of domestic visitors increased from 56.32 lakh in 2021 to 1.8 crore in 2024. The foreign travellers also increased from 5,000 in 2021 to 83,000 in 2024. According to Panki Sood, a Kullu-based hotelier who promotes sustainable tourism, the terror attack is a major setback for Kashmir tourism. "A whole generation grew up wanting to go to Kashmir, and it was only in the last three years that people's dream of visiting the paradise started coming true. It took decades to build the trust that you are safe in Kashmir. But now that trust is broken. This tragedy pushed back Kashmir tourism at least 15 years," said Sood. Sood called it a "sad reality" that the tragedy would divert tourism to Himachal and Uttarakhand. "We don't want such tourism, but travellers and tourists don't have any other choice. We may even witness double the tourist traffic this year. We are assuring our brethren in Kashmir that we are standing by them and will help them operate in Himachal if they wish so," added Sood. According to experts, an increase in the number of tourists will further pressurise tourism infrastructure in the state. "We don't have too many tourist destinations in the mountains, making everybody head mainly for Himachal Pradesh. The tourist destinations remain chock-a-block, especially during summertime. I think the govt needs to strengthen tourism infrastructure, including accommodation, roads, and parking, to accommodate the additional flow of visitors," said Ankur Thakur, a state-based hotelier. Box: Tourist Footfall In 2 States Himachal Pradesh Year | Domestic | Foreign 2021 | 56.32 lakh | 5,000 2022 | 1.50 crore | 29,000 2023 | 1.59 crore | 63,000 2024 | 1.8 crore* | 83,000* *Figure up to Dec Kashmir Year | Domestic | Foreign 2021 | 6.64 lakh | 1,614 | 2022 | 26.53 lakh | 19,947 2023 | 31.18 lakh | 37,678 2024 | 34.54 lakh | 43,654 Fall in Covid year in Himachal | Tourist footfall reported a sharp dip in 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic struck the work. The state's domestic tourist footfall came down from 1.68 crore in 2019 to 31.7 lakh in 2020. Foreign tourists fell from 3.8 lakh in 2019 to 43,000 in 2020. Ladakh guv asks people to welcome tourists The lieutenant governor of Ladakh, Brig B D Mishra (retd), on Thursday appealed to all stakeholders and sought their assistance in welcoming tourists with open arms and taking all necessary measures to increase the footfall of tourists in Ladakh. In a statement, Mishra said tourism is the lifeline of the people of Ladakh, as the majority of people are engaged in tourism activities for their livelihood. He asked tourism stakeholders to welcome and support tourists and not indulge in any malpractices that might hamper the footfall and affect the livelihood opportunities of the people of Ladakh. He stated that going by the trend, he was expecting more tourists to visit Ladakh in 2025 than in 2024. He added appropriate action would be taken against the travel advisories issued by the United States and United Kingdom, categorising the UT of Ladakh under Jammu and Kashmir and thereby creating confusion and concern among foreign and domestic tourists.
