Latest news with #Kashmir-bound
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Kol's outbound flyer count back to near normal after Pahalgam dip
1 2 Kolkata: Following a three-week decline in passenger numbers at Kolkata airport after the April 22 Pahalgam terror incident and India's Operation Sindoor response , there are now positive indicators. Daily departing passenger numbers from Kolkata airport, which had decreased to 23,000 from 28,000, are now showing a steady improvement, with Sunday recording over 27,500 departures — a 20% increase over last week. This improvement follows the ceasefire agreement, relaxed airspace restrictions, and reopening of northern Indian airports affected by the border tensions. Airport authorities are optimistic that the difficult period has passed. "We experienced a significant reduction in passenger numbers following the Pahalgam incident and subsequent military action against Pakistani militants. Recent days show positive trends in bookings and attendance, indicating renewed traveller confidence," a Kolkata airport official said. TOI reported on Monday that tour operators who experienced significant cancellations and reduced Kashmir-bound travel, are orchestrating a recovery. The Travel Agents' Association of India (TAAI), alongside 100 Kolkata-based agencies, initiated the "Chalo Kashmir" initiative last week to restore interest in the Valley, promoting it as a secure summer destination. "Tourism has been a harbinger of peace. By encouraging people to travel to J&K, we are supporting livelihoods and reinforcing a message of resilience, unity, and hope," TAAI chairman (East) Anjani Dhanuka said. Tourist interest is increasing. With summer holidays on and airspace restrictions lifted, both families and individual travellers are considering vacation plans. Souvik Mukherjee, a technology professional from Behala, departed for Leh on Sunday. "We planned this trip months ago. Yes, there were initial concerns and I almost decided to cancel. But then I discussed it with my group of friends, with whom I will be starting from Delhi, and we decided to hold on to our bookings. Now, we believe the situation is stabilising and the recent developments have given us the confidence to go ahead," said Mukherjee. TOI data had indicated a steady decline in outbound passengers since the Pahalgam incident. On April 21, before the Pahalgam attack, 28,164 passengers flew out. Two days later, departures dipped to around 26,000. By May 10, numbers decreased to 23,009. Post ceasefire, numbers improved steadily. Saturday recorded 26,754 departures and Sunday saw 27,555 domestic passengers leaving. Travel industry reports increased enquiries and reservations. "Just two weeks ago, we had to process multiple cancellations daily. Now, we're seeing a spike in fresh bookings and more tourists flying out. I am certain the number will cross 30,000 per day by next week," said Anil Punjabi, national committee member of Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI).
Hans India
24-04-2025
- Hans India
Hyd tourists cancel J&K bookings
Hyderabad: The Pahalgam terror attack has triggered large-scale cancellations and inquiries by the tourists who had planned their tours to Kashmir during the summer vacation. There have been inquiries by the tourists including the Amarnath yatris ahead of the yatra in July. The fear of the terror attack is more as the terrorists have targeted the innocent tourists killing them by asking their names and checking their religion. The travel agents who had suffered during the last few years because of the Covid pandemic, are now a worried lot with fear of cancellations. The Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) Telangana and Andhra Pradesh chapter president Nagesh Pampati, who also heads Aeroworld, said that there are almost 150 to 160 cancellations for the tour planned during the coming week or ten days. The tourists who had planned their visits after three to four weeks have inquired but not cancelled so far. They are inquiring about the security to be provided by the government, said Nagesh Pampati. He said that they were cancelling the trips on the request from the tourists and the airlines were also good enough to provide a refund for the cancelled tickets. The TAAI president said that generally, there is heavy rush of Kashmir-bound tourists from the two Telugu States. From Aeroworld alone, more than 1,000 tourists visit Kashmir between April and June every year, he added. Another tour provider Pavan Singh of Jai Bhavanee Yatra, who operates Amarnath Yatra every year, said that there has been flood of inquiries from the travellers for the Amarnath Yatra. Pavan Singh has been convincing the yatris that there is a lot of time left for the yatra. The Pahalgam falls in the route of Amarnath Yatra. It is after passing from this area the pilgrims go towards Chandanwadi and Amarnath cave. 'We have already received eight to ten bookings. I have told the yatris that we are not going now. Our trip will be starting from July 1 and by that time things will settle down and there will be tight security in the Kashmir Valley,' said Pavan Singh. He further said that the military takes over the security during Amarnath yatra and they will check every bag the tourists take.
The Hindu
23-04-2025
- The Hindu
Terror attack in Pahalgam triggers wave of tour cancellations to Kashmir
Panic has gripped the tourism industry in the immediate aftermath of the terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on Tuesday (April 22, 2025), with travel agencies reporting a spate of cancellations. The attack has cast a shadow over what is usually the peak tourist season in Kashmir, particularly among travellers from heatwave-struck regions like Hyderabad, who were looking forward to a respite in the valley's cooler climes. Pahalgam terror attack updates April 23, 2025 'Just hours before their flight to Srinagar, a family of six from Hyderabad cancelled their premium holiday package, which included sightseeing at Pahalgam. The moment the news of the attack broke, they called me asking to cancel everything. We had no choice but to comply,' said Syed Murtaja, managing director of 68M Holidays. Tour packages from Hyderabad to Srinagar range from ₹1 lakh to ₹2 lakh for a family of four, depending on the inclusions. Tour operators say the impact could be significant. 'Kashmir has been our most-booked destination post-COVID. We usually handle 700 to 800 bookings for Jammu and Kashmir annually, and demand peaks in May and June,' said Mr. Murtaja. 2.36 crore visitors in 2024 This disruption comes at a time when the State was witnessing record-breaking tourist footfall. The Jammu and Kashmir Economic Survey 2024-25 noted a historic high of 2.36 crore visitors in 2024. This figure includes 65,452 foreign tourists, 5.12 lakh pilgrims who undertook the Amarnath Yatra, and 94.56 lakh devotees visiting the Vaishno Devi temple. Tour operators ask clients with travel dates in May wait Syed Waseem, managing director of Cloudz Tours and Travels, said the valley had consistently topped domestic travel preferences over the last three years. 'We get around 200 to 300 Kashmir-bound bookings from Hyderabad in just May and June. This attack will certainly affect the flow of tourists. For now, we are asking clients with travel dates in May to wait. But immediate departures are being cancelled,' he said. The ripple effect is already visible in Hyderabad. The city, which has two direct daily flights to Srinagar operated by IndiGo and Air India Express, has seen a flurry of calls to travel agencies and airlines to cancel booked tickets. In response, both carriers have announced waivers on cancellation charges. Acknowledging the developing situation, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued an advisory urging airlines to increase flight frequencies to handle possible shift in demand. The advisory also encourages airlines to be flexible with rescheduling and cancellation policies to support affected passengers.
