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New Indian Express
30-04-2025
- New Indian Express
Tourism stakeholders criticise Kashmir's decision to close 48 tourist spots for security audit
SRINAGAR: The recent decision to temporarily close for security audit following the has drawn sharp criticism from tourism stakeholders, who fear it will tarnish the Valley's image and deter potential travellers. 'The decision to close 48 tourist destinations in Kashmir by the government is very unfortunate,' said prominent hotelier and J&K Hoteliers Club president Mushtaq Chaya. 'Closure of 48 tourist spots will send a very bad message outside and those tourists who were planning to visit Kashmir will now hesitate to travel to the Valley.' The government's move comes in the wake of the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that killed The incident has triggered heightened security concerns and led to a comprehensive review of safety at tourist locations across Jammu and Kashmir. Officials stated that the closures are temporary and aimed at ensuring the security of visitors. The 48 destinations fall across eight districts, Srinagar, Budgam, Baramulla, Anantnag, Kulgam, Kupwara, Ganderbal and Pulwama, and include picturesque but lesser-known spots such as Yousmarg, Tosamaidan, Doodpathri, Aharbal, Kousarnag, Bangus, Verinag Garden, Sinthan Top, Margan Top, Naranag and Astanmarg Viewpoint. Some prominent locations closed in north Kashmir include Gurez, Bangus Valley, Baba Reshi and Kaman Post, areas that had only recently opened to tourists due to the improved security situation in the region. In Srinagar, the historic Jamia Masjid in Nowhatta, along with Badamwari, Rajouri Kadal, Aali Kadal, Faqir Gujri and parts of Dachigam National Park, are among the 15 places affected. In central Kashmir, Yousmarg, Tosamaidan and the rapidly emerging Doodpathri destination have been closed. In the south, tourist attractions like Aharbal, the Sun Temple in Kehribal, Verinag, Sinthan Top and Margan Top have also been affected. Travel Agents Association of Kashmir (TAAK) Secretary General Sajad Kralyari said the closures have created a negative atmosphere, resulting in a wave of cancellations. 'Closure of 48 tourist spots has added to the negativity and might lead to further cancellations,' he said. 'The officials have told us that after security clearance, these tourist spots will again be thrown open.' Despite the setbacks, Kralyari remained hopeful. 'Major tourist destinations including Sonamarg, Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Dal Lake, Boulevard and Mughal Gardens are open. Ninety percent of tourists visit these places only,' he said. 'There have been about 80–90 percent cancellations. We are hopeful of revival of tourism again. We are receiving queries again.' He also credited the warm response of locals and celebrity actor Atul Kulkarni's recent visit for helping to restore confidence in Kashmir's safety. 'The hospitality displayed by the Kashmiri people after the Pahalgam terror attack and celebrity Atul Kulkarni's visit to Kashmir has sent a message outside that Kashmir is safe. We are hopeful that tourism will again pick up in the Valley,' he added. The Pahalgam attack has sparked massive outrage in the region. For the first time in over three decades of militancy, a complete shutdown was observed across the Valley against the killings of civilians. People also took out rallies and protests denouncing the violence.
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.
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.
