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Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Tour operators from Maha, Gujarat on solidarity visit to Kashmir
A 70-member delegation of various tour operators from across India have converged in Kashmir with the J&K government facilitating the visit as part of its efforts to bring back tourists to Kashmir after the flight of visitors out of the valley following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam. With chief minister (CM) Omar Abdullah holding two back to back cabinet meetings in tourist resorts of Pahalgam and Gulmarg on Tuesday and Wednesday and pushing for tourism revival in the Valley, the group of some 26 major tour and travel operators from Maharashtra and Gujarat is on a solidarity visit to Kashmir. This is the first group of tour operators from outside J&K to visit the Valley after the April 22 terror attack in Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam in which 25 tourists and a local man lost their lives. The delegation went to Pahalgam where they met CM Omar Abdullah on Tuesday and also interacted with local tourism stakeholders on Wednesday. President of Maharashtra Tour Organisers' Association Vishvajeet Patil said that they wanted to bring back the charm of valley tourism. 'We are a 70-member delegation who have come from Mumbai and Gujarat which include some big travel agents and associations. Yesterday we met CM Omar Abdullah. There was a good interaction on how we can bring back the charm of Kashmir, so that the tourists return. Today we were also very happy to meet local stakeholders like horse and taxi owners,' Patil said. Kashmir witnessed an exodus of tourists immediately after the Pahalgam attack. The Kashmir tourism players say that after the attack, there was an instant cancellation of 80% booking and then after the war like situation between India and Pakistan in May, the cancellations peaked to 95%. Before the attack, the valley witnessed record breaking tourist footfall for the past three years. Another tour operator, Satish, said that they have decided to promote Kashmir in their respective places. 'We met all stakeholders, including hoteliers, and since tourism is very low from the past month in Pahalgam, we have decided to promote Kashmir. After every up and down like Pulwama or Article 370, Maharashtra Tour Operators Association was like a rock with their Kashmir counterparts and will continue to do that,' he said. After meeting the delegation on Tuesday in Pahalgam, Omar extended his heartfelt gratitude to them. 'I thank each one of you for coming to Pahalgam and supporting the revival of tourism. I recognise many of you as those who reignited tourism in the Valley during the most challenging times — when even the locals feared venturing out,' he said. Omar, on Wednesday, also expressed hope that the delegation's visit will helped revive Kashmir tourism. 'They came here on their own will. I or our department can't take its credit. They contacted us and said they want to come.I am thankful for their visit and hope that their visit is beneficial for us,' he said. Vishvajeet Patil said that it was just a matter of time that tourism revives in Kashmir but exuded hope that successful Amarnath Yatra will resume footfall of tourists again into Kashmir.
Hindustan Times
24-04-2025
- Hindustan Times
Kashmir travel plans unravel as cancellations surge
MUMBAI: A day after the terror attack in Pahalgam, vacationers are already cancelling travel plans to Jammu & Kashmir. An idyllic destination for tourists, especially during summer vacations, J&K is being struck off the bucket list of many – for now, at least. The Maharashtra Tour Organisers' Association claims as many as 5-7 lakh tourists from Maharashtra alone head to J&K every weekend during summer. While small groups cater to 20-30 tourists, larger operators accommodate 100 tourists per trip. 'Tourism had revived after the abrogation of Section 370 in 2019, and was booming lately. It is hard to say whether Tuesday's attack will have a long-term impact but, for now, clients are cancelling their bookings for Jammu & Kashmir for the next 15 days,' said Dilip Yadav of Tulip Holidays, a member of the association. Apart from Pahalgam, other popular locations in the Kashmir Valley, such as Gulmarg, have shut their doors to visitors in the wake of the attack. 'Pahalgam became a tourist hot spot thanks to social media influencers,' said another tour operator. While acknowledging the human tragedy in Pahalgam, many tourists looking forward to a memorable vacation in the Valley are either cancelling or reconsidering their plans. 'My sister-in-law from Pune was to leave for a week-long trip to Kashmir with a group of eight on Tuesday. Their flights were booked and accommodation arrangements made. Now she has decided not to go,' said Madhu Awasti, a Navi Mumbai resident. A women's travel group from Vashi was on the verge of finalising bookings for an eight-day trip covering Srinagar and Pahalgam in May. 'On Monday, I checked flight rates to Kashmir and was ready to book. Now we've decided to wait,' said Bhavna Bhatia, a group member and frequent traveller to Kashmir since 2011. This is the first time Bhatia is cancelling a trip to the Valley. 'I'm now hoping to go in November, provided the situation stabilises,' she added. For the Quadri family from Jogeshwari, a trip to Kashmir was to be the perfect escape from Mumbai's scorching summer. The five-member family had locked their itinerary, but Tuesday's attack has prompted them to reconsider. 'We were to travel at month-end and had a budget of ₹50,000 per person. Now we have shelved our plans. We'll probably stretch the budget and opt for an international destination, possibly Thailand,' said Suleiman Quadri. But what of tourists who are already in the Valley? Tour companies say they have had to make last-minute changes in their itineraries for their clients. According to Veena Patil, who owns Veena World, 'Many want to cancel and come back.' Patil said some of her clients who were already in Kashmir had to improvise. 'The area (in Pahalgam) is cordoned off. As a result, tourists are heading for Sonmarg and Srinagar. Hotel rooms are unavailable in Srinagar,' she said. Shailesh Patil of Kesari Travels said his company had not had any cancellations but his clients were worried. 'We had four groups in Pahalgam. They will complete their tours and return to Srinagar.'' Vishwajeet Patil of Raja Rani Travels, revealed, 'With no entry into Pahalgam, we are receiving many requests to cancel advance bookings for trips to Kashmir, but we are asking our clients to reconsider. Besides, we have paid hotel and cab owners for future tours. Locals also want to return to normalcy,' Patil said. Prabhulal Joshi, who owns Heena Tours, said his company too was flooded with cancellations. 'Many have sought cancellations. Some want to travel to other destinations.'' Meanwhile, the Union tourism ministry issued a directive to all tourism service stakeholders to waive cancellation fees and provide the necessary support to ease travel disruptions due to the Pahalgam attack. Addressed to major online travel aggregators, travel agencies, tour operators, hoteliers and transport providers, the ministry requested immediate support and cooperation. The letter, signed by Secretary (Tourism) V Vidyavathi, specifically named platforms such as MakeMyTrip, Yatra, Goibibo, ClearTrip, EaseMyTrip, Ixigo, Airbnb, Agoda, Thrillophilia, and Expedia, along with tourism and hospitality industry associations.
