23-04-2025
‘For us, tourist season ended Tuesday itself': Travel agents, hoteliers reel in aftermath of Pahalgam terror attack
The terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam has had a direct effect on the tourism industry, with panicked travellers cancelling their tours and those currently in Srinagar rushing to shorten their trips.
Karan Saggar, owner of Travel with Karan, a Ludhiana -based travel company, said, 'Since Wednesday morning, we have received only cancellation calls. Many tourists currently in Srinagar want to return early.'
Saggar said more than 30 summer tours with his company have been cancelled since the Pahlagam terror attack on Tuesday in which 26 people were killed and several others were injured. 'Most of these were linked to the Amarnath Yatra. Typically, tourists plan a combined trip — first to the Amarnath Yatra and then sightseeing in Srinagar. This incident will certainly affect not just travel agents but also Srinagar's entire tourism industry.'
Saggar said the airfares from Srinagar have soared to over Rs 25,000 per person. 'Unfortunately, private airlines have taken advantage of the situation, hiking airfares for flights from Srinagar to Amritsar, Delhi, or Chandigarh,' he said.
'This is inhumane on the part of the airlines, and I am shocked that the Union government is acting as a mute spectator… At such a critical hour, flights from Srinagar to other cities should not be exorbitantly priced,' echoed Karan Saggar once again,' said Saggar.
Rattandeep Anand, owner of Asia Hotel in Jammu and senior vice president of the Jammu Hotel and Restaurant Association, pointed to the other side of the flight fare dynamic: The drastic reduction in fares to Srinagar. 'Yesterday morning, before the attack, a flight from Jammu to Srinagar cost Rs 18,000 per person. Today, it is down to Rs 5,000 — and yet there are no takers.'
The general manager of a reputed hotel in Srinagar, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said, 'Since Tuesday night, I have been handling only cancellations. Many groups had planned tours in advance, but tourists already in Srinagar are leaving as soon as they can get flights. The situation is the same at other hotels as well. Last year, Srinagar experienced a surge in destination weddings, corporate tours, and a thriving tourism season. Tuesday has come as a black day for Srinagar.'
He added, 'Pahalgam is known to be a peaceful place. Such an incident occurring there is simply unbelievable.'
Goldy Dhillon from Pehalwan and Sahib Cab Service in Ludhiana said, 'Due to the landslide near Jammu's Ramban, many of our tempo traveller bookings had already been cancelled, as people were choosing to travel by air instead. We collaborate with travel agents, and our tempo travellers regularly go to Srinagar. Usually, 14-15 people book a vehicle to travel together.'
'After the flood in Manali in July 2023, people turned to Srinagar, and the seasons since then have been excellent. We were waiting for the landslide debris to clear so we could recover some business during summer vacation, but now, looking at the panic cancellations, it seems tourists will choose other destinations instead. Let us wait and see,' he added.
Dhillon said the Pahalgam terror attack would severely affect the tourist influx for the Amarnath Yatra and hamper the taxi services business as well.
Rattandeep Anand, owner of Asia Hotel in Jammu and senior vice president of the Jammu Hotel and Restaurant Association, told The Indian Express, 'Although most tourists prefer Srinagar, they typically halt in Jammu for a day or so. So, Jammu will also be affected indirectly, despite being 300 km away. Many people come to Jammu for the Vaishno Devi pilgrimage… Let us see whether that influx is hit in the coming days.'
Shabeer Ahmad, former president of the Kashmir Printers Association and a resident of Srinagar, said, 'We are in shock after the Pahalgam incident. Locals are deeply shaken. On Wednesday morning, all markets in Srinagar observed a black day to condemn the massacre of innocent people. Many local Pahalgam transporters are even offering tourists free rides to help them return home safely, anywhere in India. We stand with the tourists in this hour of crisis.'
'There is no doubt that on Wednesday, tourists hardly stepped out of hotels and were in a hurry to leave. For us, the tourist season ended Tuesday itself. We are truly speechless,' he added.
Ahmad said the tourism industry had been 'blooming' over the past year. But now, everyone and everything, from hotels and restaurants to transporters, printers, and even a small kahwa seller, will be affected, he said.
'This points to a serious security lapse on the part of both state and Union governments. How can armed people roam freely and kill innocent civilians?' asked Ahmad.
